Discover Bari
Guide to vacation Bari
Bari is the capital of both a province and the region of Puglia.
The sunny city overlooks the Adriatic Sea at about half the height of the Apulian coast; its port is a key point for trade with the eastern world.
The many colourful crops of the area are a sign of the importance of Bari’s agriculture.
There is a clear distinction between the old and new parts of Bari. The older part lies between the old and new port, a typical medieval town of narrow streets that can best be discovered on an unhurried walk. Architectural gems are
San Nicola, the Cathedral and the Castle. Stop to admire
Piazza Libertà, and on a sunny day enjoy the comings and goings of the people on the
Augusto or the Nazario Sauro seafront promenades.
All over Bari province you can savour delicacies. Among the fish dishes are sea bream with olives or sea bass ‘San Nicola’. On your return from Bari, instead of taking gifts from the many souvenir stalls, choose attractive and delicious packets of taralli, casatagnette or cartellate biscuits. Superior wines of Bari are
Primitivo, Moscato di Trani, and the
white wines of the Itria Valley.
Only six kilometres from Bari, visit
Valenzano with its
wonderful Ognissanti (All Saints) church.
Southwest of famous
Barletta, well worth a visit is the area of the
archaeological site of the Battle of Cannae. Here in ancient times stood the town of Cannae, famous for Hannibal’s victory against the Romans in 216 BC.
Remaining traces of the ancient city date back to the pre-Roman, Roman and medieval periods. Cannae stood on the heights of a hill overlooking the
Ofanto Valley.
Famous for its agricultural production, but especially for its pottery and soft wool is
Canosa di Puglia, also visited for the
Lagrasta Hypogea, among the most important in terms of local architecture. Do not leave the province of Bari without visiting the noted resorts of
Castellano Grotte and Alberobello with its trulli brushing the blue sky.