City in Apulia, Italy
Photo: Francesco Di Stefano 08, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bari (Bari dialect: Bare) is the capital of the Apulia region of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. With a population of 317,000 (in 2019), it's the second largest city in Southern Italy after Naples. It's also the core of a metropolitan area exceeding one million inhabitants and a bustling commercial centre and port.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Basilica di San Nicola
This romanic church with a gold ceiling and a crypt contains many medieval attractions, including the magnificent cathedra of Bishop Elias.
Cattedrale di San Sabino
A Roman church even older than St. Nicolas', though later refurbished in baroque style, and equally interesting.
Swabian Castle, or Houhenstaufen Castle
The symbolic fortress of the city: built in the 12th century, destroyed and then rebuilt during the 13th century by Frederick II.
Catholic Church of St. Anna
St. Anna Church was built between 1246-1247 as a synagogue, known as “Scola Grande”. It was later converted into a Christian Church and entrusted to the Confraternity of St. Anna. Finally, in 2009, the Church became a museum.
Its history is rooted to ancient times, when there was a significant Jewish community in Apulia, mostly composed of traders and farmers. During the early Middle Ages, the Jewish culture experienced an intense growth and several Talmudic schools were established in Apulia. Rabbenu Tam considered them to be very prestigious institutions, declaring that: “For out of Bari goes forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Otranto".
In the 11th century Apulia fell under the rule of the Normans and, after a couple of centuries, to the Swabians, with Frederick II, also known as "Stupor Mundi" (“Wonder of the World”), who protected the Jewish community and gave Jews rights by reason of their presence in politics and their personal history.
The Angioinians, instead, ordered the forced conversion of most Jews to Catholicism and, when Naples and part of Southern Italy fell to the Spanish in 1510, the Jewish community was completely expelled.
The church is located in the local Giudecca and is also close to the city harbour and the Cathedral.
Chiesa di Santa Chiara
Built on the site of the medieval Santa Maria degli Alemanni church, this site was acquired by the Order of Saint Clare in 1429. After various renovations in the 16th century, the church was completely rebuilt in its current Baroque style during the early 18th century.
The largest theatre of the city and the fourth Italian theatre by size. Its season feature high quality productions of prose, opera, ballet and classical music.
Saint Nicholas Patron Saint's Day
The Saint of the city is Saint Nicholas. He is celebrated by the Catholic Church on December 6. In Bari, several masses take place early in the morning (as early as 04:00) of December 6. A huge crowd and lots of fast food stands fill the old town through the night. The city's main celebration of Saint Nicholas, however, takes place in May 6–8 with historical reconstructions, popular music and a two-day fireworks contest. For this event many pilgrims come from all over the world.
Lungomare Starita, 4
Hosted yearly during September, the Fiera del Levante is no longer just an exhibition, where you can also find stands for many countries in the world, but now also a place for hosting conferences and musical events.
It is an annual film festival held since 2009.
To eat tasty panzerotti.
A pizza restaurant
Italian cuisine
An old and very informal restaurant in the old town. Traditional, non-posh cuisine. Simple four-course menu for about €15.
Conceptionally similar to the Osteria Vini e Cucina.
Mexican food.
Vendor of high-end salumi and wines.
Bar at the exit from Giardino Garibaldi.
Wifi, lockers, free breakfast, outgoing host.
Cosy Rox are a couple of residences operated for overnight stays and short term rentals. To stay you will need to visit the main hostel (Sumas Bla hostel) at 40 Piazza Luigi di Savoia, from where you will be directed to the place where you will stay. The residence on Via Matteo Renato Imbrianni has private rooms, good atmosphere, clean, modern and warm with shared kitchen and bathroom, and free Wi-Fi. Francesco, the owner is super helpful and a welcoming host and has a dog. Ask if you can help for 3 or 4 hours a day to have a discount or for 6 hours in change of food and accommodation.
This B&B has a great location. Near the accommodation there are some popular points of interest like Ferrarese Square, Mercantile Square, Bari Port.
This B&B is really close to Bari Cathedral and the centre of Bari is 1 km away from the venue.
Room 110 is set next to the centre of Bari. It is really close to Ferrarese Square.
One block from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, ten minutes to the old town. Rooms are spacious but fairly basic. Generous breakfast. There is a small supermarket across the street. €90 for a double.
70 m from Corso Cavour. Also the historic centre and St Nicholas Cathedral are very close to the Hotel.
A 5-minute walk from the centre of Bari.
B&B and apartments with on-site parking and Wi-Fi. Facilities include a rooftop terrace, garden, and bar. Airport shuttle and bike rentals are available. Rooms are air conditioned and soundproofed.
Spa resort a few kilometres from downtown, with wellness centre and swimming pools.
Four-star accommodation behind the famous Petruzzelli Theatre, in the city centre, a few blocks away from the sea line; with 75 bedrooms divided into double classic, deluxe and suites, and with large public areas, internet connection, meeting and ballrooms and a panoramic terrace. Also available for weddings and special occasions.
3.7 km from the historic centre of Bari. Some rooms have a great view of the city.
1 km from the centre of Bari and 0.6 km from Basilica of Saint Nicholas.
1.6 km from Port of Bari; the centre of Bari is 2 km away.
4-star hotel, 1.5 km from Karol Wojtyla Airport, offers free parking and free WI-FI connection and conference spaces with 10 soundproofed meeting rooms on the ground and 1st floors. The structure houses a spa and wellness centre, which includes an indoor swimming pool with hydromassage, a fully equipped gym, a sauna, a Turkish bath, also offers a buffet breakfast and 2 restaurants in the area open for both lunch and dinner. The rooms are bright, soundproofed and welcoming, suitable for families.
Jewellery store on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Items for parties and various holidays. Different types of cards and boxes. other various items.
La Feltrinelli it's a bookshelf equipped with armchairs to sit down to read. There is a bar where you can stop.
Sweet shop of all kinds.
Library with a wide choice of genres, for all ages.
Here you'll find Louis Vuitton, Benetton, and the like.
By train
Check the Trenitalia website for time tables and prices. The main station is Bari Centrale, in Piazza Aldo Moro.
By car
By bus
You can use Onbus Company to travel from Sicily to Puglia. Touring buses connect Germany to Puglia.
By boat
Bari is the destination for ferries incoming from the Greek port of Patras and Igoumenitsa. If you are traveling on a Eurorail during the low season, the cost is €16, during the mid season, €31.
By bus
By car
Parking in blue zones (ZSR) is generally paid Monday–Saturday, 08:30–20:30. It is free on Sundays and public holidays, except in specifically marked "parking islands" (Aree di sosta a pagamento h24).
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Bari · International · BRI
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