This coastal Italian city has centuries-old streets where women make orecchiette pasta on doorsteps, fishermen sell fresh catch at markets, and the 12th-century San Nicola basilica guards ancient relics.
Bari, the capital of Italy's Puglia region, spreads along the Adriatic coast. In the Old Town's narrow streets, you'll walk past the massive 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola and watch local women making orecchiette pasta on their doorsteps. Along the waterfront promenade, Lungomare Nazario Sauro, fishermen sell their morning catch while locals take their evening walks between cafes and restaurants serving fresh seafood.
Exploring Bari Vecchia
The Old Town sits on a peninsula between two harbors, with a maze of narrow lanes from medieval times. As you walk these streets, you'll hear residents chatting from their balconies and see children playing soccer in small squares. Family-run shops, cafes, and traditional bakeries occupy the ground floors of limestone buildings. Visit in the early evening when residents step out for their traditional passeggiata (evening walk).
Religious Architecture
The 11th-century Basilica di San Nicola rises above the Old Town's rooftops. Its Romanesque walls contain a baroque ceiling and medieval sculptures. You can visit the crypt where Saint Nicholas's remains lie beneath the altar. Nearby, the Cathedral of San Sabino displays detailed stone carvings and a 12th-century mosaic floor that covers the entire nave.
Local Food Scene
Fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and local vegetables form the core of Bari's cuisine. At the old port's morning fish market, fishermen sell octopus, sea urchins, and mussels directly from their boats. Walk through the Old Town to see local women making orecchiette pasta using wooden boards and centuries-old techniques. Try riso patate e cozze, the city's traditional dish of rice, potatoes, and mussels baked in earthenware pots.
Arts and Culture
The Teatro Petruzzelli, Italy's fourth-largest theater, hosts opera performances and classical concerts. After a fire in 1991, workers restored the theater to match its original 19th-century design. At the Pinacoteca Provinciale, you can view regional art from the 11th to 19th centuries, including paintings by Venetian masters and Pugliese artists.
Day Trips from Bari
Within an hour's drive from Bari, you can visit several interesting towns. In Alberobello, walk among more than 1,500 trulli - cone-roofed limestone houses that fill the town's hills. The small town of Polignano a Mare sits atop limestone cliffs, with small beaches nestled between rock formations and a compact historic center above the Adriatic Sea. These towns give you a chance to explore more of Puglia's architecture and local life.
