Bari Location guide

Sooner or later everyone comes to Bari and whether you are a Medieval crusaders or a guest on a modern cruise ship, we are ready to welcome you with open arms. Even the remains of our patron saint, Saint Nicholas, came here in 1087, so that we could protect his valuable possessions from being stolen or desecrated by those in the east. Or at least that is the official version if anyone asks...

Bari is a dynamic city of traders that is always in a hurry, a long way from the stereotypical image of the sleepy south. A city where the streets are always full, people wake early and go to bed late. A city where people take pride in their homes and their environment, ensuring that the outside is kept as clean and welcoming as the inside.

What to see and do

1. The Saint Nicholas Basilica, an early example of Roman Apulian architecture
2. The Castle del Monte
3. The San Sabino Cathedral
4. The Mercantile Piazza
5. A walk in Via Arco Basso (near to the Castle) to see the handmade 'orecchiette' pasta
6. The Saint Nicholas Stadium
7. Shopping in Via Sparano
8. A walk along the ancient city walls
9. The Levant fair in September
10. The local dish of rice potatoes and mussels

Events
7-9 May - The Festival of Saint Nicholas
Twice a year there is a celebration to honour Saint Nicholas, once in December when his death is honoured and then the main festival in May which celebrates his arrival in the city. At 7 a.m. in the morning, a statue of the saint is carried by fishermen in a sea procession, returning to land in the evening to mark the start of an enormous party which includes a parade of carnival floats and a firework display.

Food and Drink

Local cooking
The Barese, above all else, enjoy recipes based around seafood and every day here, large quantities of fish, octopus and shellfish are consumed. The octopus is a particular favourite, whether boiled or grilled, along with pasta dishes served with fish.
The main local dish is a pot of rice, potatoes and mussels, which is thought to have come from the time of the Spanish invasion, a sort of 'budget' paella. Whilst the Spanish nobles could afford expensive saffron and delicious shellfish, the rest of the population had to settle for these much more simple ingredients, although sometimes with the addition of courgettes and tomatoes. Another local speciality is red 'orecchiette' pasta coloured by horse meat sauce.
Local Wines
There are many wines produced in the surrounding vineyards including Gravina, Gioia del Colle and Rutigliano, particularly noted for its red wines.

Spotlight on the Saint Nicholas Basilica
Bari's historic centre extends onto a small peninsula, known as Bari Vecchia, a kind of city within a city. At one time, this area had a bad reputation, but following a regeneration project during the 1990s, it is now a welcoming and safe place to be. You still need to watch out for the scooters that continue to speed along the labyrinthine streets though!
At the centre of Bari Vecchia is the Saint Nicholas Basilica, an architectural masterpiece of Medieval Art and a place regarded as sacred place by the local community. Inside the crypt you can find the preserved relics of this Saint, loved across the world by many religions, for his role as Father Christmas, and it is one of the few places where you can practice Greek Orthodoxy as well as Catholicism. Also worth a visit is the Cathedral dedicated to San Sabino di Bari.

How to get there
Bari is the capital of the Puglia Region, the third largest in the south of Italy with 300,000 inhabitants, or 600,000 if you count the peripheries.
By air: Bari Palese Airport is just a few kilometres from the centre, and has been recently modernised and dedicated to Pope John Paul II. Flights operate to the major cities in Italy as well as European destinations including London, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart.
By car: The best way to reach Bari is from the A14 motorway. Pay attention if you are coming from the north. You must exit at Bari North (Bari-Nord) as the exits for the centre (Bari-Centro) and the south (Bari-Sud) are inaccessible from this direction.
By train: Bari is well connected to the main Adriatic Line which comes from the north.
By boat: Daily crossings to Albania, Montenegro, Croazia and Greece. Bari is also a main port of call for cruise ships.