About
Bari is the capital of Puglia, the region that forms the heel of Italy's boot, and a major port city on the Adriatic Sea. It is a working city first, with ferries, commerce and everyday life running along its waterfront, and it makes a rewarding stop for visitors who want to see southern Italy beyond its better-known tourist circuits.
The old town
The historic centre, known as the Bari Vecchia, is the heart of a visit. Its narrow streets and small squares give a sense of the city's long past, and it is easy to wander on foot, stopping where the mood takes you. The old town sits close to the sea, so walks through it often lead back to the water.
What a visit offers
- Strolling the old town's lanes and squares at a relaxed pace
- Time by the Adriatic, with the port and its comings and goings in view
- A base for exploring the wider region of Puglia
- A look at a city that is both historic and lived-in
Because Bari is a port and a regional capital, it has a practical side as well: it is well placed for travellers moving between the coast and the interior of Puglia, and it offers a more unhurried taste of southern Italian city life.
Plan to give the old town a few hours at least, and leave room to sit down somewhere by the sea. For many visitors, Bari is less a single sight than a city to take in slowly, one street at a time.