EXPERIENCING THE CITY: an overview of the places of historical and social interest in Bari

In this article you will discover the wonders of the city and get various tips about how to spend your free time once your lessons and university activities are over. Despite not being a major city like Rome or Milan, Bari has a lot to offer, to its citizens and tourists too. Foreigners flock to its streets throughout the year and especially to the historic centre which represents a cultural bridge between the past and the present times.

Bari is famous for the Old Town that embodies people’s soul and the pure essence of the Apulian culture and traditions. The capital of Apulia, in fact, is nowadays well-known for the so-called “Arco Basso”, where foreigners and tourists may appreciate the charming art of producing orecchiette and taralli literally in the middle of the street, as a real exhibition en plein air.

The patronal feast in honour of St. Nicholas, protector of the city is, since ever, in people’s hearts: during those days (from 7 to 9 May) solemn celebrations and numerous religious and cultural events in honour of the saint are held. The ceremony foresees that the statue of St. Nicholas crosses the portal of the church and then goes to meet its pilgrims with a long procession through the city streets; after that it waits on the sea for the pilgrims who come in homage to the saint boats.

You cannot miss the long walks along the seafront too: it is decorated with many streetlamps that make the whole area incredibly suggestive, characteristic and distinctive.

Nearby the promenade you can surely spot the magnificent architecture and the bright red of Petruzzelli Theatre, the most important in Bari and the fourth largest in Italy. The theatre was devastated by a violent fire in 1991 and then rebuilt in 2009.

Walking along the “Muraglia” (what remains of the fortifications that defended Bari between the 12th and 19th centuries) you can also admire the Fort of Sant’Antonio and enjoy the gorgeous view of the sea and maybe a wonderful sunset too; then get to Santa Scolastica.

Other points of interest are the Cathedral of San Sabino, the Norman-Swabian Castle, the Russian Church, the Pane e Pomodoro beach, the popular Via Sparano with all its shops and numerous cafes and many clubs in the city centre.

Lastly, if you are passionate about art and history you cannot miss: the Corrado Giaquinto Art Gallery, the Spazio Murat in the homonymous quarter, the Civic Museum and Museo Nicolaiano.

Sure you are curious about this city now, we hope to meet all of you soon to visit Bari together, even outside university!

Pic by: Lonely Planet