Our Favorite Places to Visit While in Bari, Italy

Situated near the Adriatic Sea in Southern Italy, Bari basically is comprised of two distinct towns.

One of these towns features narrow streets that carry great tones of historical attractions and is situated at the corner of Peninsula, while the other town is relatively new and stretches to the south of the city.

In this article, we highlight the top sites that you should visit in Bari while you are there.

San Nicola

Based on Romanesque architecture, San Nicola preserves the relics of St. Nicholas and reveals tiny historical details in the form of the carvings of the building interior. The church is square shaped, seems due to which it looks like a castle straight from some fairytale.

It features two massive towers that frame the façade while the interior has a center and two aisles, split up by granite columns. It also features a gallery for women, built above the aisles.

Egnazia

Established in the 13th century BC, Egnazia is an ancient archeological city. It remained an active center for people belonging to the Bronze Age. Egnazia was primarily famous for its amazing pottery, examples of which can be seen at the archeological museum in Egnazia. Monumental tombs in the cemetery are also embellished with frescoes for tourists to view.

Lungomare Nazario Sauro: A Seafront Promenade

The seafront of Bari was inaugurated in 1927 and offers tourists a stroll around with a breathtaking view of the surrounding palaces. This is an active spot for the couples who wish to enjoy an evening full of solitude and tranquility. Hence, an evening trip to the Lungomare Nazario Sauro could be very worth it.

Pinacoteca Provinciale (Provincial Art Gallery)

This modern gallery showcasing amazing artwork belonging to 11th - 19th century. Other than the paintings, it features a wide range of books and maps – which are in Italian and are hence, of limited interest to tourists. Unless of course, you can understand the Italian language. This gallery is free to enter and should be paid a short visit primarily for the admirable interior.

Castello

Castello was originally a Byzantine-Romanesque style building, reconstructed in Norman-Swabian style, and situated on the west side of the old town. It was converted into a palace in the 16th century and was later used as a prison and signal station. Today, the building features a captivating museum with duets of Apulian-Norman sculptures and various art exhibitions throughout the year.

Altamura

Altamura is a small town partly surrounded by ancient walls and is located south of Bari across Murge Plateau. Old tombs with remnants of vases have also been found, of which there is a collection at the Museum of Archeologico Statale di Altamura.

The Church of San Sabino

The Church of San Sabino is lesser known as compared to the Basilica of Saint Nicola. However, it is extremely beautiful in its own capacity. Hence, do not forget to include the church of San Sabino in your list for a day trip.