Bari Attractions
Bari, capital of the region of Apulia and the province of the same name, lies in southern Italy - on the Adriatic coast. It is the largest city in Apulia and the second largest in southern Italy after Naples.
The port of Bari, a leading commercial and industrial center (petrochemicals and shipbuilding), is particularly important by virtue of its trade with the eastern Mediterranean. It is also the see of an archbishop and possesses a university and a naval college.
The picturesque old town, with its narrow winding streets, frequently spanned by arches, lies to the north, on a promontory between the old and new harbors. To the south is the spacious and regularly planned new town, which has developed considerably since 1930, when the Levant Fair was first held here.
History
The ancient Barium was a place of little importance. Until it was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071 it was used by the Byzantines as their main base in southern Italy. From 1324 it was an almost independent fief which finally passed to the kingdom of Naples in 1558.
The port of Bari, a leading commercial and industrial center (petrochemicals and shipbuilding), is particularly important by virtue of its trade with the eastern Mediterranean. It is also the see of an archbishop and possesses a university and a naval college.
The picturesque old town, with its narrow winding streets, frequently spanned by arches, lies to the north, on a promontory between the old and new harbors. To the south is the spacious and regularly planned new town, which has developed considerably since 1930, when the Levant Fair was first held here.
History
The ancient Barium was a place of little importance. Until it was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071 it was used by the Byzantines as their main base in southern Italy. From 1324 it was an almost independent fief which finally passed to the kingdom of Naples in 1558.
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San Nicola
The church of San Nicola is a pilgrimage site which dates to the 11th and 12th C. The remains of Saint Nicholas of Bari reside beneath the silver altar.
Lungomare Nazario Sauro
The east end of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is also the starting point of the Lungomare Nazario Sauro, a magnificent seafront promenade which runs along the old harbor.
San Sabino
In the center of the old town of Bari rises the cathedral of San Sabino (originally 1170-78), with important remains of Norman ornaments. In the crypt is an elaborately adorned painting of the Madonna; the archives include two parts of a large exsultet roll (the Catholic Easter liturgy; 11th century).
Altamura, Italy
(Near Bari)
From Bitetto it is another 29km/18mi southwest over the Murge plateau to Altamura (478m/1,577ft; pop. 53,000), a town still partly surrounded by its old walls. There is an imposing cathedral, built by Frederick II in 1231 and renewed in the 14th and 16th century. It has a richly decorated doorway (1312) on the main facade. Inside are a pulpit, a bishop's throne (16th century) and beautifully carved choir-stalls (1543).
Archeological Museum
The center of the new town is the palm-shaded Piazza Umberto I. On its west side is the imposing building of the university, with a well-stocked library (160,000 volumes), and the interesting Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Gioia del Colle
Castello Svevo, Piazza dei Martiri
I-70100 Bari
Italy
Gioia del Colle
Castello Svevo, Piazza dei Martiri
I-70100 Bari
Italy
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
Always closed on:
Epiphany (3 Kings' Day ) - Christian (January 6)
New Year's Day (January 1)
Liberation Day - Italy (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
New Year's Day (January 1)
Liberation Day - Italy (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Bitetto, Italy
(Near Bari)
About 15km/9mi southwest of Bari is the little town of Bitetto (139m/459ft; pop. 9,000) with the cathedral of San Michele (14th century), a building in late Apulo Romanesque style.
Bitonto, Italy
(Near Bari)
West of Bari lies Bitonto (118m/389ft; pop. 51,000), with well-preserved town walls. In the center of the old town is the cathedral (c. 1200), perhaps the finest example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. Particularly beautiful are the richly decorated main doorway and the delicately pillared gallery on the south side. Inside there are two fine pulpits. Beneath the church is a crypt supported by 24 columns. East of the cathedral stands the Palazzo Vulpano Sylos (Renaissance courtyard; 1500).
Castello
To the west of the old town of Bari is the Castello, originally a Byzantine-Romanesque building, reconstructed by Frederick II in 1233. Bona Sforza converted it into a palace in the 16th century; later it was used as a prison and signal station. The building now houses an interesting museum with copies of Apulo-Norman sculptures (temporary art exhibitions).
Great Harbor
From the Castello in Bari the wide Corso Vittorio Veneto runs west past the Great Harbor (Gran Porto or New Harbor) to the grounds of the Levant Fair (Fiera de Levante), 2.5km/1.5mi away on the seafront.
Provincial Picture Gallery
1km/0.75mi southward along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro is the palace of the provincial administration in which is the picture gallery (Pinacoteca Provinciale). Most of the pictures are older scenes of Bari and the surrounding area, together with works by Moretto da Brescia, A. Vaccaro, C. Maratta, Giovanni Bellini ("Martyrdom of St Peter"), Vivarini, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, etc.
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