Sights of Bari – 20 most interesting places

The history of the ancient city of Italy, Bari, begins with the small fishing harbor of Barium in 181 BC. e. Now it is an important economic center of Southern Italy (the second most important after Naples), preserving the architectural heritage of the past centuries. We will tell you which of the many attractions of Bari are worth visiting for tourists in the first place. Thus, you can independently create the best route for walking around the city.

Bari Castle

A massive, slightly gloomy building, evokes images of the cruel Middle Ages. It seems that the wars have recently ended near the powerful sloping walls, mysterious rectangular towers, and prisoners of the 90th century languish in the dungeons, when the castle of Bari (Swabian) was used as a prison. Barracks. Erected (at the behest of the King of Sicily in 1131), the architectural structure was changed, completed with a fortress wall, bastions, and a protective moat.

Together with the graceful elements of the Renaissance style, the architecture of the castle has always confirmed its military power. The entrance to the castle is on the south side. Passing over the massive bridge, you can see the courtyard, the bastion, the main tower of the castle. Now it houses a historical museum, exhibitions and excursions are often held. Walking along the embankment of the city, you can see the extraordinary night illumination of the castle. It seems that medieval events are taking place in the illuminated halls.

Castle address: Piazza Federico II di Svevia.

Basilica of Saint Nicholas

In the building, built in honor of the patron saint of the city, St. Nicholas, services and Catholic church events are held, just like many centuries ago. In the Basilica, the relics of the revered saint are kept as a priceless gift brought from the Turkish World. The basilica was erected between 1087 and 1197. Initially, the church served as a court chapel and had the status of a palace temple. It has many frescoes, arches, columns, rich, solemn decorations. Many decorative elements are borrowed from the ancient buildings of Byzantium.

In the center of the church is a sculpture of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, made of pure silver. The bishop's throne is made of a single piece of marble, and the entrance to the basilica is guarded by two hornless bulls, indicating (as follows from an interesting legend) the place where the famous basilica was built. The church is of great importance for the Christian world, being a place of pilgrimage to myrrh-streaming relics that work miracles. Every year on the day of the appearance of the relics, a holiday is held on May 9 (22). The basilica is located at: Largo Abate Elia, 13.

Cathedral of Saint Sabin

The church is the second largest in the city after the Basilica of St. Nicholas. Otherwise, it is called the Duomo (Cathedral). The cathedral was built in the 13th century on the site of a destroyed Byzantine temple and is dedicated to Bishop Sabina of Canosa. His holy relics are preserved. There is also an ancient icon “Hodegetria”, created by the evangelist Luke in the VIII century. Numerous ancient frescoes, arches, columns create a beautiful, majestic view of the ancient Cathedral of St. Sabin.

The facade of the building is decorated with an unusual window in the form of a rose, with figures of fantastic animals. You can see it from anywhere in the Old City. Services, liturgies, masses (even for children) are regularly held in the Cathedral. Together with them you can get acquainted with the interior of the church. See ancient wall graffiti depicting crosses left by the crusaders before their campaigns.

Address of the architectural landmark: Piazza dell'Odegitria, 1.

Bari Vecchia

The old city is narrow streets leading to the port, harbor. You should definitely walk along them in order to feel the atmosphere of the city, to see the real life of the population of Bari (such as it was in the Middle Ages). Hanging clothes, craftsmen's shops, ancient fountains, water pumps. Among the architectural puzzle of narrow labyrinths, 40 churches and over 120 sanctuaries were amazingly built.

Walking along the narrow cape next to the port, you can see many sights, but most of them are closed to the public. At the very shore rises the fortress of St. Anthony, the old fort (it houses a gallery), the ancient monastery of St. Scholastica. Now it is a university building. Rest and lunch are best organized in a small cafe in the Old Town and try fish dishes delivered from the nearby port.

Forest Mercadante Cassano

Acquaintance with the surroundings of the city, the natural sights of Italy can be carried out not only on the unique coasts, but also, for example, in the Alta Murgia National Park. Most of the park is occupied by the famous Mercadante Cassano Forest. This is a successful combination of the natural landscape with man-made activities. Among the tropical vegetation, beautiful karst ravines, rocks, caves created by nature over many millennia, there are zones for safe walks and recreation.

Even majestic dinosaurs once reigned in the Altamura Valley, located not far from the forest. Near the forest there are many tourist villages, places to stay. Convenient places for picnics and recreation have been created on its territory. There is a forest in Cassano delle Murge. You can visit it along with a tour, drive on your own in a rented car, taxi.

Embankment

An evening walk along the Adriatic coast is impossible without the beautiful embankment of the city. It is impossible not to notice, not to visit this place. The embankment is located in the New part of the city. It was built in the XIX-XX centuries outside the ancient center, it is considered the longest embankment in Europe (30 km).

The promenade begins near the Paleze area, continues to the fishermen's village of Torre A Mare. At the beginning of the embankment there is paid parking for cars. The view of beautiful medieval buildings, palaces, amazing plants, rich sea air, comfortable benches, original lanterns make the walk pleasant at any time of the day.

Bari Murattiana

The new city of Bari is located in the eastern part of the settlement. A new part appeared as an extension of the space for the construction of modern buildings after the demolition of the fortress wall in 1813. The name appeared in honor of the king of Naples, Gioachino Murat. Unlike the labyrinthine streets of the old part of the city, a project of European standards from the beginning of the 19th century was implemented here. Straight streets, Avenue Victor Emmanuel II (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II), large squares with fountains, surrounded by majestic architectural masterpieces.

The new city is filled with the sounds of nightclubs, restaurants, cafes. These are monuments, theaters, museums, art galleries, parks. The main pedestrian street (Via Sparano, about 1 km long) is full of boutiques, shops for every taste. Here you can always feel the hectic life of modern Italy. In the new Bari there is a train station where guests of the city come.

Petruzzelli Theater

The re-opening of the fourth largest theater in Italy took place in 2009 (after a devastating fire in 1991). The theater was built at the end of the 19th century with funding from the Petruzzelli family. On the square next to the sea, a place was chosen where folk festivals most often took place. During the opening, Meyerbeer's opera Les Huguenots was performed in 1903.

Residents of the city have always dreamed of their own cultural center. Therefore, the decision to restore the building was made by the townspeople with approval and great financial support. The first performance was Puccini's “Princess Turandot” in 2008. The voices of many famous masters sounded from the theater stage. Including Luciano Pavarotti, who was born in the city. The theater seats 1490 spectators to enjoy modern and classical music.

Theater address: Via Salvatore Cognetti 8.

Grotte di Castellana

The first successful survey of the underground cave system, created by the natural force of the underground river, took place in 1938 by the famous speleologist Anelli. His bust is installed at the entrance to the first cave. Millions of years formed huge halls, bizarre corridors, decorated with crystalline formations of stalactites, stalagmites. The most beautiful cave of the complex is the White Cave. The natural white color of the walls is enhanced by special lighting, making it the home of fabulous gnomes.

You can go to the cave along the Desert Corridor (in the form of a narrow gorge) with a wall height of 450 m. Separate cave halls have been cleaned and ennobled. There are hiking trails leading to a depth of 72 m. A short route lasts about 1 km, designed for 1 hour. The cost of the tour is 12 €. The long route (3 km, duration 2 hours) costs 16 €. There are benefits for pensioners, schoolchildren, students.

Address: Puglia, Castellana Grotte. You can get there by Sud-Est commuter train.

Art Museum of the Province of Bari

Pinacoteca Provinciale is a rich art gallery of works by masters of southern Italy who lived at different times. The Museum of Fine Arts of the country began its activity in 1928. Initially, the collections were housed in the Government Palace. Then the museum moved to the luxurious building of the Palazzo della Provincia. It adorns the famous embankment of the city. A separate hall of the gallery houses the works of the famous Italian artist Corrado Giaquinto, after whom the Pinacoteca is named.

In the expositions of the gallery you can see masterpieces of the Venetian school of painting of the 15th and 16th centuries, Neapolitan iconography, painting, sculpture, modern works. Apulian majolica, ancient nativity scenes (paintings depicting the Nativity of Christ), works by Macchiaioli artists of Tuscany. The rich heritage of the Pinakothek is considered to be a wooden figure of Christ dating back to the 12th century. The gallery is open from 9 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Saturday. The entrance ticket costs 2.5 €.

Church of San Marco dei Veneziani

Often the ancient church is called Byzantine. This is due to the ancient structure of the Byzantines, located in this place until the 13th-15th centuries. The construction of a new temple began after the liberation of the city from the saration. The Romanesque style of the façade is distinguished by a rose-shaped window, an arched portal with rich stucco, and the famous winged lion (symbol of Venice and St. Mark's Church).

Inside the church there are carved Renaissance style altars, sacristy, stained-glass windows, paintings, statues, antique furniture. The entrance to the sacristy is decorated with polychrome tiles with images of the Madonna del Pozzo, Saints Mark, Antonio. The church is located on the main square of the city between the Basilica of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral. Entrance to the church is allowed without payment. Photo and video shooting is prohibited.

Archaeological Museum

The history of the development of the Provincial Museum, founded in 1875, reflects the development of civilization in the region of Puglia from ancient times to the present. New artifacts from archaeological excavations are constantly added to the museum's fund. Among them are household items made of bronze ceramics by craftsmen of the peoples of Daunia, Messapia, Peuchetia. The museum is the owner of the most complete database of artifacts of the ancient civilization created by these peoples before the advent of Puglia. Of interest is the collection of terracotta figurines made by the inhabitants of ancient cities.

The figurines, called Tanager, depict more naturally the poses of men and women. In the long corridors there are many ancient vases, statues of gods and heroes. The museum is located on the territory of the New Town at Piazza Umberto I in one of the university buildings. Tours are by prior arrangement. Ticket price 5 €. The museum is temporarily closed for free visits. Works from Tuesday to Saturday. Beginning at 8.30, end of work at 18.30 hours.

Aldo Moro Square

On the square there is a railway station (built in 1864), bus stations for intercity, city bus routes, forming a central transport hub. There is a subway exit on the square. The square is named after the Red Brigades terror victim Aldo Mora, chairman of the Council of Ministries of Italy. His important political career began with the reign of Benito Mussolini.

Moro's main goal was to expand the democratic foundations in the country, to create a new democratic system. It took 4 years to investigate the crimes of the “Red Brigade”, but the customers of the high-profile terrorist crime of the century were not found. In the square near the square, his bust is installed near the fountain, built in honor of the Apulian Aqueduct. The main building of the university, located at Piazza Umberto, 1, is named after Aldo Moro.

Aqueduct Palace

The Apulian Aqueduct is the largest version of the ancient aqueduct in Europe. The palace was erected under the leadership of Duilio Cambelotti in 1932 in honor of the unsurpassed richness of the land of water. This is reflected in the design of the majestic facade of the palace. The availability of drinking water in this place in Italy was a big problem. The population used rain reserves, which present great health problems in the form of frequent poisonings and epidemics.

The idea of ​​bringing water to Puglia from elsewhere through an Apennine tunnel was realized in a bold aqueduct project. The first streams of the purest water entered the region in 1915, giving life to more than 400 settlements in the region. Now in the museum, located in the palace, walls, floor, ceiling. The windows contain elements of decoration associated with water. Entrance to the palace is free of charge. There are interesting tours of the palace.

Piazza Ferrarese

On the south side of the historic center, overlooking the beautiful waterfront of the city, there is a square named after the birthplace of the Ferrer merchants. In the 16th century, the main trade road passed here. A fragment of an ancient road, discovered by archaeologists, is one of the unusual places in the square. On the left are the arches of the Murat Hall, where exhibitions of works by contemporary artists are held. On the right side there is an old fish market, as well as a food market with a large selection of fruits and vegetables.

The area ends opposite the old harbor. The place is beautifully decorated, is a graceful entrance to the Old City. From the territory of the square, the old port and the coast are clearly visible. In the evening, the owners of the square are young people, lovers for romantic meetings, walking tourists. There are many cozy cafes and bars on the square. In the northern part, the square connects with Piazza Mercantile.

Piazza Mercantile

In ancient times, this place of the city was considered the heart of trade. It houses the Customs and Administrative palaces. As an ever-living monument of the historical past of Italy, the Column of Justice or pillory rises. In ancient times, people were tied to it as a shameful punishment for those who failed to repay their debts on time. The column is guarded by a stone lion sitting on top with the inscription “Guardian of Justice” on its chest.

There is an opinion that the pillory was built in the 16th century. The severity of the punishment was reduced at the request of Pietro di Toledo. The square connects New Bari with Old Bari, being the elegant history of Bari, the social living room of the city. Right on it there are comfortable tables where you can always relax and try delicious coffee.

Theater Margherita

The building of a rectangular Art Nouveau style, decorated with towers, an openwork arch, was erected in 1914. These architectural elements are on the facade of the building. A unique feature of the building is the foundation of the building in the form of piles installed on the seabed. This helped to circumvent the ban on the construction of theaters within the city, acting under an agreement between Petruzzelli and the city administration. The building, made in pastel shades, has an original asymmetric design.

Along the perimeter of the building there are many rectangular windows of different sizes. The cornice of the building, reinforced on massive columns, is decorated with bas-reliefs and stucco elements. A wide dome rises above the pediment. Restoration work is currently underway with the aim of organizing a museum of modern art in the theater building. At the same time, the facade will retain its original appearance overlooking the city's embankment. Tourists have the opportunity to admire the building, listen to the guide for detailed information about its history.

Theater address: Piazza IV Novembre, Bari.

Port

A significant object of the city has always played a special role in the southeastern part of Italy as a major transport center. Trade with the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, the Middle East was important for the development of the country's economy. This determined the creation of a convenient infrastructure for a multifunctional port. Docks are well equipped, excellent communication between all types of maritime transport has been established. There are even two separate docks for fishing boats.

From the embankment you can see snow-white cruise liners, huge ships designed for different purposes. Every year about 150 liners arrive here, more than 2 million people (including 400,000 cruise ship passengers).. In the port, you can book a cruise through the expanses of the Adriatic Sea, washing the coast. The cruise terminal is located in the center, which is very convenient for vacationers.

Alberobello

Traveling around the area can become an acquaintance with a real fairy tale. The UNESCO heritage site of Alberobello will amaze any traveler with its trulli (traditional dry-stone houses). They resemble the dwellings of dwarves from children‘s fairy tales. Amazing houses with a conical roof (trulli means dome) are distinguished by their ability to quickly collapse if the lockstone is removed from their walls. There are no such buildings anywhere else in the world. At the same time, the walls of the building are thick, providing the necessary coolness in the heat.

The name of the place in translation from Latin means “tree” and “war”. Reliable military mechanisms were made from the mighty oaks that had been growing in this territory for a long time. The easiest way is to visit the place along with a tour, listen to the legends, learn the historical facts of the unique surroundings. You can rent a car and drive about 55 km on the SS100 highway, turning onto the SS172 road in Casamassima. During the high holiday season, it may be difficult to find a parking space. Another way to travel is by train or by Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE).

Sassi di Matera

Tiered cave dwellings were built in the Sassi quarters (translated as stones) for many centuries, starting from the Neolithic era. Grotto houses were cut down in the thickness of impregnable rocks, providing safe living for the ancient inhabitants of the area. Streets were formed from them, public services, restaurants, cafes, hotels were equipped in separate rocky caves. Some of them are functioning now. In the thickness of the tuff above a deep valley, dwellings were created, in which the roofs of some became the floor of the next houses, etc.

Park of cave churches (about 150 units), houses in the rock since 1993 are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are considered an exceptional example of the careful use of natural resources. Now the general unsanitary condition of the cave town does not allow living here permanently. In the 1950s, the inhabitants of the cave city were moved to modern Sassi houses, the rock city was restored to its original beauty, while maintaining a natural fortress in an important area of ​​​​the Civita quarter.

The unusual type of buildings was often used to embody the ideas of artists and filmmakers. Matera is sometimes referred to as the “Second Bethlehem”. Filming of the film “The Passion of the Christ” took place here. You can get to one of the oldest cities on the planet by train that leaves every two hours.