As the center of Puglia province, Bari is a popular destination among tourists and an excellent starting point for the region’s numerous attractions.
Bari is one of the most important cities in Southern Italy and also the second largest city on the Adriatic Sea coast. It is divided into two clearly distinguishable parts: the medieval Città Vecchia (Old Town) with its labyrinthine streets and the modern 19th-century Città Nuova section. Bari has been an important commercial center for centuries, particularly for trade towards the Balkans and the Middle East. The city is home to the relics of Saint Nicholas, making it a pilgrimage site for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
Table of Contents
Bari attractions
Old Town (Città Vecchia)
This medieval district was formed in the 10th-11th centuries when Bari became an important port of the Byzantine Empire.
Walking through the labyrinth of narrow, winding streets, one feels as if traveling back in time. The small squares hidden among the whitewashed houses, the aroma of fresh orecchiette pasta made by local women create that authentic Southern Italian atmosphere that tourists pilgrimage here for.
The central part of the old town is grouped around the San Nicola Basilica and the cathedral, but it’s worth getting lost in the side streets as well. Here you’ll find numerous traditional trattorias where you can taste local specialties, as well as craft shops where you can purchase the region’s traditional products. The area’s specialty is that it’s still inhabited by a living community, not just a tourist attraction.
San Nicola Basilica
Bari’s most important religious building and one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Europe. The temple, built starting in 1087, is home to the relics of Saint Nicholas (Saint Nicholas of Myra).
The basilica is also architecturally outstanding: a masterpiece of Puglian Romanesque style that combines Norman, Byzantine, and Arab architectural elements. The main facade is flanked by two massive towers, while the interior is divided into three naves with beautiful marble columns. The crypt is a particularly sacred place where Saint Nicholas’s relics rest in a marble sarcophagus.
The basilica is important not only for Catholic pilgrims but is also visited by Orthodox Christians in large numbers, as Saint Nicholas is an extremely revered saint in the Orthodox Church as well. Behind the temple is a small museum that displays valuable liturgical objects and historical mementos about the saint’s life and cult.
Bari Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Sabino)
Built in the 12th-13th centuries on the site of an earlier Byzantine church, it is the center of Bari’s archbishopric. The cathedral is dedicated to Bishop San Sabino, who lived in the 6th century and is considered Bari’s patron saint.
The building is another example of Puglian Romanesque architecture, showing similar stylistic features to the San Nicola Basilica but with finer, more elegant lines. The central part of the facade is particularly stunning with its rose window, which showcases the virtuosity of 13th-century stone carvers. The interior contains the crypt called Succorpo, where San Sabino’s relics rest.
The cathedral’s treasury holds an extremely rich collection: medieval manuscripts, goldsmith works, and liturgical vestments, including the so-called Exultet scroll, which is an unparalleled creation of Byzantine art. The church tower is one of the city’s highest points, offering a panorama of the Adriatic Sea and the city.
Norman-Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo)
One of Bari’s most imposing buildings symbolizes the city’s strategic importance. The fortress was originally built by the Normans in the 12th century, then expanded and modernized by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century.
The castle is a rectangular structure reinforced with corner bastions, a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Behind the massive walls, you’ll find a courtyard surrounded by arcaded corridors. The castle also functions as a museum where you can learn about medieval Puglia’s history through archaeological finds, weaponry, and period artifacts.
The building’s specialty is that it combines different eras’ architectural styles: from Norman foundations through Swabian expansions to later Spanish modifications. The castle offers a beautiful view of the sea and the old town, the panorama is especially magical at sunset. Today it also functions as a cultural center, regularly hosting exhibitions and cultural events.
Lungomare Nazario Sauro
Bari’s most popular promenade stretches for more than two kilometers along the Adriatic Sea coast. This beautiful waterfront promenade was built in the early 20th century and has since been the center of the city’s social life.
The wide promenade is lined with palm trees and Mediterranean plants, dotted with benches and viewpoints. Here you’ll find one of the city’s most photographed spots, where the old fishing quarter’s houses meet the modern city district. Along the promenade, numerous cafes and restaurants await visitors.
The Lungomare becomes especially magical in the evening. At the end of the promenade is the harbor, where luxury yachts and ferries bound for Albania and Greece dock alongside fishing boats.
Piazza del Ferrarese
One of the most significant squares in Bari’s old town, located at the meeting point of the medieval district and the modern city center. The square gets its name from an 18th-century Neapolitan merchant who built his palace here.
The rectangular square is surrounded by historic buildings, among which the Palazzo del Sedile, the building of the city’s former council house, stands out. From the square opens Via Venezia, which is the old town’s main street and leads to the San Nicola Basilica.
Various cultural events and festivals are held here, especially in summer. Roman and medieval remains discovered during archaeological excavations in the square can be viewed under glass, providing a unique glimpse into the city’s history.
Petruzzelli Theatre
The center of Bari’s cultural life and Italy’s fourth largest opera house. The theater, which opened in 1903, was designed and financed by brothers Onofrio and Antonio Petruzzelli, who created this monumental building as private entrepreneurs.
The theater’s architecture is a masterpiece of eclectic style, following the traditions of late 19th-century European opera houses. The exterior facade is decorated with neoclassical elements, while the interior follows traditional Italian opera house arrangement: horseshoe-shaped auditorium with box seats and magnificent ceiling frescoes. The theater seats 1,500 spectators on five levels.
The building’s history took a tragic turn in 1991 when fire destroyed the interior spaces. Reconstruction work was completed in 2009, and the theater reopened in its original splendor. Today, the Petruzzelli is home to opera, ballet, and classical concerts, hosting world-class performances. The theater’s specialty is its original Steinway piano and perfect acoustics.
Via Sparano
This beautiful boulevard was built at the end of the 19th century when the Città Nuova was created during Bari’s modernization.
Both sides of the street are lined with elegant 19th and 20th-century buildings, housing renowned international brand stores, local shops, and historic cafes. Via Sparano is a pedestrian street, so visitors can take comfortable walks along the palm-decorated path. The street’s architectural specialty is the row of Liberty-style buildings.
It’s suitable not only for shopping but also important from a sightseeing perspective, as it serves as a connecting link between the old town and modern districts. Along the street are several historic palaces, including Palazzo Fizzarotti, which today houses the provincial government headquarters. In the evening, the street’s illuminated buildings create a romantic atmosphere.
Russian Orthodox Church (Chiesa Ortodossa Russa di San Nicola)
A special religious monument in Bari, built for the Russian Orthodox community. The church was built in honor of Saint Nicholas, in harmony with Bari being home to the saint’s relics.
The building’s architecture follows typically Russian Orthodox style: with onion domes, rich iconostasis, and traditional Orthodox decoration. Inside the church, beautiful frescoes and icons decorate the walls, following Byzantine artistic traditions. The sanctuary is particularly stunning with its gold and blue colors.
The church’s specialty is that it creates a connection between Eastern and Western Christianity in Bari. Orthodox services are regularly held here, and it’s a pilgrimage site for Orthodox believers who come to the city because of Saint Nicholas’s relics.
Teatro Margherita
One of Bari’s most unique architectural monuments, built directly over the sea. The theater, inaugurated in 1914, was named in honor of Queen Margherita and originally hosted variety shows.
The building was constructed in Art Nouveau style and due to its unique position – standing at the end of a pier extending over the sea – it’s one of Bari’s most photographed attractions. The theater’s exterior architecture shows elegant lines with large windows through which natural light flows in.
The interior space is no longer used for theatrical purposes but functions as a cultural center. During the building’s renovation, it received modern functions but retained its historical character. The theater’s specialty is the view, which offers a unique panorama of the Adriatic Sea and the city’s old town. The view from the theater’s terrace is especially magical at sunset.
Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico di Santa Scolastica)
Home to one of the most significant archaeological collections in the Puglia region. The museum is housed in a former monastery, which is itself a historical monument in the heart of the city.
The collection presents the region’s multi-millennial history from the Stone Age to the late Roman period. The museum’s pride is the finds of the Dauni culture, which represents the civilization of ancient Puglia’s indigenous people. Particularly valuable are the ceramic finds, jewelry, and bronze objects from the 8th-3rd centuries BC, which prove the sophistication of local culture.
Another outstanding part of the museum is the collection of classical Greek and Roman objects. Here you can see beautiful Greek vases, Roman statues, and mosaics that document Bari’s Roman-era significance. The numismatic collection contains more than 2,000 coins, including products from local minting workshops. The museum brings the past to life for visitors with interactive presentations and multimedia tools.
All information can be found here!
Pinacoteca Metropolitana di Bari
The city’s fine arts collection is housed in the Palazzo della Provincia building. The museum presents the painting traditions of the Puglia region from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The core of the collection consists of works by Southern Italian masters from the 11th-18th centuries. Particularly valuable are the works of Puglian primitive painters who developed their unique style by combining Byzantine and Western artistic traditions. The museum’s pride includes works by Bartolomeo Vivarini and other Venetian masters, which document the region’s cultural connections.
The modern and contemporary section presents 19th-20th century Southern Italian artists, including works by Giuseppe De Nittis and other locally-born painters. The museum also regularly organizes temporary exhibitions that promote contemporary Puglian art. The Pinacoteca’s specialty is that it not only displays artworks but also their cultural and historical context, thus providing a comprehensive picture of the region’s artistic development.
All information can be found here!
Bari weather: when is the best time to travel?
Due to Bari’s Mediterranean climate, it boasts pleasant weather year-round, but each season has different characteristics.
Spring (March-May): Temperature gradually rises to 15-20°C, rainy days are rare. Nature comes alive, the blooming of almond and cherry trees is a particularly beautiful sight in the countryside.
Summer (June-August): Warm and dry period with temperatures between 25-30°C. The sea water temperature is 24-26°C, ideal for swimming. July and August are the hottest, sometimes the temperature can rise above 35°C.
Autumn (September-November): Pleasant temperature between 20-25°C, September and October are still excellent for the seaside. From mid-November, rainfall increases, but there are still many sunny days.
Winter (December-February): Mild winter, temperature rarely drops below 10°C. Rainy days are more frequent, but cold waves are rare. The sea water is cool, but the weather is still favorable for sightseeing.
Best time to travel:
The most ideal time to visit between May-June and September-October. During this period, the temperature is pleasant (20-26°C), the sea water is still swimmable, and you can avoid the summer crowds. For sightseeing, the weather is good anytime between April and November, while June-September is most suitable for beach activities. The winter months can also be attractive for those who like the authentic, tourist-free atmosphere and aren’t bothered by occasional rainy days.