Travel Guide BARI.
 

Population: 312.452

Currency
1 Euro = 100 cents

Opening hours
Shops in Bari are usually open between 9-12,30 and 15,30-19,30 (closed on Sundays).

Internet
www.comune.bari.it
www.barinight.com
www.pugliaturismo.com

Publications
Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno
BariSera
La Repubblica
Corriere della Sera
La Repubblica
La Stampa
Il Sole24ore

Emergency number
Carabinieri: 112
Police: 113
Fire brigade: 115
Ambulance: 118
Coast Guard: 1530

Tourist office
Azienda di Promozione Turistica
Piazza Moro, 33/A
Tel: +39 080 5242361
www.pugliaturismo.com

Ufficio Informazioni e Accoglienza Turistica
Piazza Aldo Moro, 32/A
Tel. +39 0805242244

Presidio Turistico Provinciale
Piazza Aldo Moro, 1
Tel. +39 0805216614
bari
Norman Swabian Castle
Welcome to bari
Bari, a typical maritime and market city, is the capital of the Apulia region and the second biggest city in the Italian south. The city developed industrially in the second half of the Twentieth Century and now boasts an important trade fair, the largest in the south. Tourists visit Bari for its historic buildings, art works and fascinating town centre, as well as for the beaches which surround the area.

the city | do & see
The city
The people of Bari love to repeat this phrase: ‘If Paris was on the sea, it would look like a small Bari’. Obviously, this is an exaggeration, but it tells us a lot about the pride (and sense of humour) in this area. This is a city with a deep sense of history and art, with rich cultural roots and a modern business outlook. An important city under the Greeks, Bari became a Roman municipality, and was later governed by the Saracens, the Venetians, the Normans, the Aragons and finally the Bourbons before becoming part of Italy. As a link between the Greek and Middle-Eastern worlds, Bari experienced its golden age during the medieval period. The glories of that age are perfectly symbolised by the stupendous Cathedral and Church of San Nicholas.
The Emperor Augustus Promenade is also worthy of note – it is the main through fare in the city – as is the Nazario Sauro Promenade, which provides a magnificent walkway along the sea front as well as superb views over the city itself. To the left is the S. Nicola jetty where every year, on the 8 May, the ceremony of the thaumaturgy statue takes place, where the statue is taken to sea on a boat where it is worshipped by pilgrims and believers. In this area you can sample the marvellous sea food in the working class bay area known as the “nderre a la lanze”.

do & see
La città vecchia (The old city)
The extraordinary old city largely consists of narrow and winding streets. Here you will find all the important medieval monuments, such as the Swabian castle and many churches, including the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola.
Il Castello svevo (The Norman Swabian Castle)
This building was begun by Roger II (1139), and destroyed at least twice by the people of Bari, in protest again the tyranny of the Normans. Frederick II rebuilt it almost completely between 1233 and 1240.
Price: 4 euro, Address: piazza Federico II di Svevia, 2
Tel: +39 0805242244

Basilica di San Nicola
The basilica was constructed between 1087 and 1197, and has always held the remains of San Nicola (who is also known as Santa Klaus). It is both a Catholic and an orthodox church, and partly for this reason is a place of annual pilgrimage for many people from all over the world.
Price: Free entry, Address: Largo Abate Elia, 13
Tel: +39 080 5737111, www.basilicasannicola.org

Cattedrale di San Sabino
This building was originally built in Byzantine style in 1062, and rebuilt in Romanesque form in 1170 after the destruction it had undergone at the hands of William the Evil in 1156.
Price:Free entry
Address: piazza Odegitria
Tel: +39 0805210064

Castel del Monte
70 km far from the centre of Bari, this unique medieval manor house stands on top of a hill in the Apulian Murgia, 540 metres above sea level and 18 km from Andria. It was probably built as a hunting residence by Frederick II between 1229 and 1249 and is a national monument.
Price: 3 euro, Address: Andria
Tel: +39 0883 569997 – 0883290111- 0883 592283
www.comune.andria.ba.it

Grotte di Castellana (Caves of Castellana)
This series of grottoes (40 Km south-east of Bari) is the biggest in Italy. They are 3 km long and 71 mt. deep and include deep caves and long underground passages with hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites, formed, over thousands of years, by water erosion of the calcareous rock.
Price: 13 euro,Address: piazzale Anelli –
Castellana Grotte, Tel: +39 080 4998211,
www.grottedicastellana.it

Alberobello
60 km far from the centre of Bari, this is undoubtedly one the most picturesque towns in the world, as it consists entirely of tiny trulli houses.
Tourist office: piazza Ferdinando IV - Alberobello
Tel: +39 080 4325171, www.tuttoalberobello.it
Ristorante ai due ghiottoni
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | eating
Event highlights
OCTOBER
Oro Levante
30 September - 3 Oct
International fair trade of gold and silver jewelleries, watches and crystal-wares.
www.fieradellevante.it

SAGRA DEL CALZONE
14-15
Festival in Acquaviva delle Fonti with street artists, theatre performance shows, music and tasting of local food and wine.
www.comune.acquaviva.ba.it

NOVEMBER
FESTA DEL VINO PRIMITIVO
11
Local canteen of Acquaviva delle Fonti open their doors to visitors. Tasting of wines and food. Dances and music along the streets.
www.comune.acquaviva.ba.it

ARCHIMED
23-26
International fair abou new inventions and patents.
www.fieradellevante.it

DECEMBER
EXPO ARTE
1-4
International fair trade of contemporary arts.
www.fieradellevante.it

FESTA DEI DOLCI DI PASTA DI MANDORLE
15-16
Festival of typical almond sweets and other cakes. Christmas chreches in churches and private houses.
www.comune.acquaviva.ba.it

Further info about events: www.comune.bari.it

Carnival of Putignano
EatingPugliese cuisine is usually associated with orecchiette (little-ear shaped) pasta accompanied by cime di rapa (turnip-tops), but there is much more to this region than that one dish. The fresh vegetables found here are often prepared with oil and garlic and other specialities include fish, homemade pasta and vegetable and cereal-based soups. Most dishes are served with very good bread or taralli (similar to breadsticks). The burrata (mozzarella cheese with a cream centre) should not be missed. Pugliese cuisine with its delicate flavours is generally considered to be amongst the best in Italy.

Ristorante ai due ghiottoni
Here you can try a variety of vegetables and fish cooked according to the best pugliese cuisine. Recommended choices: the “risotto ai due ghiottoni’ with spinach, cream, ham and parmesan cheese and oven-cooked salted bass fish. Good selection of local, national and international wines.
Address: via Putignani, 11
Tel: +39 0805233330
Ristorante Perbacco
An elegant place where you can eat typical as well as more creative dishes. Good selection of wine and excellent service.
Address: via Abbrescia, 99
Tel: +39 0805580179

Al sorso preferito
This place is to be found in an old building in the city centre. Here you’ll find typical pugliese cuisine such as “orecchiette alle fave” (typical homemade pasta with broad beans) or with cicoria (chicory) or cime di rape and cavatelli (another kind of pugliese homemade pasta) with seafood sauce.
Address: via De Nicolò, 40
Tel: +39 0809641850

Pizzeria Enzo e Ciro
The most celebrated pizzeria in Bari. The furniture is a bit shabby but the pizza is great and other typical dishes are of the same high standard. Don’t forget to book, it’s always packed.
Address: via Imbriani, 79
Tel: +39 0805541535

Pizzeria Tarantini
Here you’ll find many kind of pizzas which are slim and crisp in the style found in Bari.
Address: via Jacini, 64
Tel: +30 0805022826

Pizzeria La Veronique
This pizzeria has just moved from the city centre to the suburbs. This is a good choice because of the availability of parking and the new place is huge - with a number of tables outside. Good hors d’oeuvre (Barese ham, olives and bruschetta) and delicious pizzas. Very good service.
Address: Via Hahnnemann, 4
Tel: +39 080 5461822


Ristorante La campagnola
This restaurant-pizzeria is famous because it’s linked with the national academy of the mozzarella di bufala. It’ located in Bitritto, a small town with a Norman castle, 15 km from Bari. Delicious pizzas.
Address: Bitritto
Tel: +39 0803854182

Café
Il caffé borghese
This is one of the oldest cafés in Bari, close to the Castello svevo and highly recommended as a place to sit with a cappuccino and brioche or an aperitivo and soak up the atmosphere of the city.
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 122

Il caffé Sao Saicaf
One of the oldest cafés in the city. Unfortunately a few years ago the place was rebuilt and lost much of its retrò charm. However, its cappuccino and brioche are still among the best in Bari.
Address: Corso Cavour, 119/121

Bars
Apéritivo venues tend to open late, at around 8-9 pm, because in Bari people usually eat dinner at around 9.30-10.00 pm, and if you arrive earlier you will probably find a lot of empty seats. People generally eat outside because it’s almost never cold.

Caffé italiano
As one of the most popular meeting places for young people this place is always packed. The choice ranges from various kinds of apéritivo to simple after dinner beers.
Address: Via Matarrese Salvatore
Caffé Mozart
This is another important apéritivo venue, but is also an after-dinner drinking bar. Here you will find hot food as well and cakes.
Address: Via Ciasca Cardinale Agostino, 9

Caffé sotto il mare
This charming place, located along the old walls (muraglia) has a good view of the lungomare of Bari. People usually visit this café after dinner.
Address: via Venezia, 16

Nightlife
Bari’s people like to chill out and chat in piazza del ferrarese or along the old walls. They also like to visit to the small villages by the sea, such as Trani, Poliniano a Mare, Molfetta and Bisceglie, for a walk and a drink. In Bari there are a few dance clubs but for discos it’s worth a trip out to the famous Divinae follie in Bisceglie, 40 km from Bari.

New Cellar club
The best disco during the eighties, the New Cellar has just re-opened after an extensive renovation. There are three deejays playing soft-house music, disco rock and 70-80 music. People from late twenties till 40s.
Address: via Principe Amedeo, 154

Le fleurs du mal
Another disco-pub with rock and Latin America music, jazz, and sometimes cabaret.
Address: via Suppa, 24

Divinae Follie
A huge disco, which can hold at least 3,000 people on one of the Europe’s biggest dance-floors. Music: happy house, r’n’b, revival.
Address: viale Ponte Lama, 3 - Bisceglie
www.divinaefollie.com

SHOPPING
If you want to find Italian fashion clothing, bags, shoes and accessories you should visit via Sparano, which is the most important shopping street in Bari. Here you can find all the famous labels such as, Paciotti, Coccinelle, Furla and Rossetti, as well as the major chains including Sisley (which is one of the biggest chain stores in the South of Italy and Zara. Recommended shops for very fashionable people include: Boutique Mimma Ninni (Via Putignani, 28/30 and Cecilia De Fano (Via Andrea Da Bari, 118/A, Via Dante Alighieri, 74, Via Sparano, 87. Other fashion shops with cheaper brands can be found in Corso Cavour and via Manzoni. The market in via Tommaso Fiore (which is open on Monday morning) is a great place for second-hand clothes, shoes, textiles and craft items. And if you want to bring home typical pugliese food and fresh vegetables it’s worth visiting the markets in Corso Mazzini and in via Nicolai (they are open every day). In the old city centre you’ll find many shops with pottery and straw baskets

Essential informationAirport
Bari’s International Airport is located around 11 km from the city centre. The local city bus (Amtab bus 16) gets you into the city for 0,77 euro (from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., every 60 minutes) or you can catch the Tempesta bus company shuttle to the rail station (ticket: 4,15 euro, every hour). Taxis cost around 20-25 euro (call Radio Taxi, Tel: +39 080 5543333 or Apulia Taxi,
tel: +39 080 5346666).
Tel. +39 080 5800200, mwww.seap-puglia.it.

Local traffic
The company which operates Bari’s local transport system is Amtab (tel: +39 080 5393111, www.amtabservizio.it). One ticket costs 0,77 euro (valid for 75 minutes), but you can get a one-day travel card for 1,81 euro.

Taxi
Bari’s main taxi companies are Radio Taxi (tel: +39 080 5543333) and Apulia Taxi (Tel: +39 080 5346666). You can also find cabs close to the rail station (Piazza Moro, tel: +39 080 5210600.

Post
Bari’s main post office is in piazza Umberto I, 33/a. Tel: +39 080 5250111. Opening hours: 8-18,30 (Mondays-Fridays), 8-12,30 (Saturdays).

Pharmacy
Bari’s chemists are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8,30 to 13,00 and from 16,30 to 20,00. They have different open hours during nights and weekends (Information: from Italy 800 430043). Addresses are posted on the pharmacies.

Dentists
For emergencies go to the Pronto soccorso of the Policlinico, piazza Giulio Cesare, 11 – Tel: +39 0805591111

Telephone
Country code: +39
Area code: 0805

Electricity
220/240V