Things To Do In Bari, Italy: Old Town Attractions & Beaches
There are many things to do in Bari, including visiting fascinating buildings in the old town, a castle, some beautiful churches and the beach. We really enjoyed exploring the city, and on every dog walk, we found something new.
Bari is also food central, and I enjoyed the foodie aspects of the city, including the local speciality, an octopus sandwich.
Things To Do In Bari, Italy
Beach Fun At Pane e Pomodoro
Pane e Pomodoro is a public beach, an easy walk along the coast road from the centre. It is popular when it’s hot, but there’s plenty of space for swimming at peak times. I visited early, and it was quiet, except for a few dog walkers.
The beach has a place for refreshments, a shower and toilets. As a bonus, they have free lockers to store your bags while swimming. The water was a good temperature and was shallow unless you walked out quite far. They have lifeguards on duty, which is reassuring.
Old Town (Bari Vecchia)
The Old Town of Bari is an excellent place to wander around. It is a bit of a maze and has lots of cute houses, churches, archways and passages to walk through. You can find various shops, small bars and some restaurants too.
One of my favourite parts was Strada Vallisa, which is nicely decorated. It is a great place to try some local street food or have a drink out.
Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino
An interesting place to visit if you enjoy ancient history is Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino. This Romanesque cathedral was completed in 1292. It is on the site of an early Christian church, where you can see the ruins inside.
Inside the main church is a lovely nave and altar with some fascinating stone architecture at the edges. I enjoyed seeing the church organ too.
Downstairs is the Baroque crypt, which is rather lavish. These contain the remains of Saint Sabinus, bishop of Canosa.
Another part of the underground was the early Christian ruins. Here you can see the structure and some excellent mosaics and frescoes.
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
Another free attraction is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. This is an old church which was completed and consecrated in 1197.
In the square outside, you can admire the church’s facade and other buildings in the area. I also enjoyed seeing some sculptures and details of the exterior.
Inside, the nave is beautiful with lots of nice decor and art on the ceiling. The columns on either side of the aisle are impressive, as is the altar. I enjoyed mooching around, seeing the details, and enjoying a sit-down for some quiet time.
In a side room in the main part of the church are the treasures of St Nicholas. This includes various artefacts and a sculpture of the saint.
Downstairs is the crypt, which is special and contains the tomb and relics of Saint Nicholas. This church is a popular pilgrimage site for Christians who come from all over the world.
Street Food Including Panino Col Polpo
One of my favourite activities was trying the local street food, including panino col polpo. This is a local octopus sandwich, and the ones I tried were delicious. Other street food I enjoyed was the local focaccia barese and panzerotti. A good place to hang out and enjoy this is on Strada Roberto Il Guiscardo.
Palazzo Fizzarotti
One of the most eye-catching buildings in the city for me was Palazzo Fizzarotti. It’s very photogenic and has decorative features on the facade. It was built in 1910 in the eclectic style, inspired by Venetian Gothic.
Wall of Bari
The Wall of Bari (la muraglia barese) is a defensive structure that dates back to the 4th century BC. It runs between the seafront and the old town centre and is an excellent place for a walk. Here you can see the fortifications and views of the sea and older parts of the city. One of my favourite times to explore here was at sunrise.
Watch Some Pasta-Making
In various parts of the old town, you can watch people making the local versions of pasta. You can purchase some, including colourful pasta. I cooked a meal with some orecchiette, the local pasta style.
Swabian Castle of Bari
One of the most formidable buildings in the city is the Swabian Castle of Bari. This is on the edge of the old town and is great to walk around and see the towers and moat. The castle was commissioned by Emperor Frederik in the 13th century. It was built on the site of a former Norman castle. You can also enter inside, which is now the city’s museum.
Sunrise Walk
One of my favourite times of day to explore any city is before and during sunrise. The sunrise in Bari was special, especially on the ancient city walls where you have sea views and epic buildings lit up by the early sun. The fishing port was also a good spot, with places to sit.
Lungomare
Bari Lungomare, the seafront, has some splendid views out to sea and of the city too. Also on the route are various eye-catching buildings and countless benches to sit on to enjoy the views.
Note: it gets hot during the day in the summer, as there is little shade. Early mornings are great if you like it quiet, and it’s bustling in the evenings.
Piazza Mercantile
One of the busiest town squares in the historic centre of Bari is Piazza Mercantile. You can find plenty of places for food and drink in the area. At night it was very social, and early morning was great for seeing all the features without the crowds. Piazza Mercantile used to be the market square of the city and has always been a hive of activity.
One of the main buildings in Piazza Mercantile is Palazzo del Sedile. This was built in 1543 as the seat of the Council of Nobles and Chiefs. Since then, it has been a merchants’ lodge and the city’s first theatre. In 1604, the German clock was added along with the tower.
Another notable feature in the square was the Column of Shame or Column of Justice. Historically, insolvent debtors were exposed to public ridicule here. Handily, there is a drinking fountain here too, which was handy for both Henry and me.
Palazzo del Governo
An eye-catching building on Piazza della Vasca is Palazzo del Governo. It’s distinctive with a red-and-white facade. The Palazzo del Governo dates from between 1815 and 1830, when it was built to replace a former women’s monastery. You’ll find other eye-catching buildings on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a lovely road to walk along if you enjoy pretty architecture.
Chiesa di San Giacomo
Near the Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino is a smaller church, the Chiesa di San Giacomo. Chiesa di San Giacomo is also known as the Church and Monastery of Saint James. During my stay, it was free to enter. It’s a simple church with some decorative features. The church dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries but has had parts added throughout the years.
Ruins of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio
Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio is the remains of a former Byzantine church; unfortunately, only the Roman columns remain from the splendid structure.
Bergia Barracks
While walking along the seafront, the Bergia Barracks, home of the Comando Legione Carabinieri Puglia, caught my eye. It is a distinctive building built between 1932 and 1936 and designed by architect Cesare Bazzani.
Teatro Margherita
The former theatre, Teatro Margherita, was built between 1912 and 1914. You can find this on the coast near the fishing port. It is a distinctive building. Nowadays, they host exhibitions here.
Ex Mercato del Pesce
A focal point in Piazza del Ferrarese is the former fish market. The neoclassical structure was constructed in the second half of the 1800s to serve as the city’s primary fish market with easy access to the old port.
Porto Vecchio
The old port (Porto Vecchio) is a top place for a walk, and there’s plenty to see, including fishing boats and views of the city and coast. You can also find a small fish market and a bar for drinks to enjoy the views.
Palazzina Palmieri
An eye-catching sight I saw while chasing the sunrise on the ancient city walls was Palazzina Palmieri. It was built in the early 20th century in the eclectic style of architecture and has two palm trees to the front, hence its name.
Palazzo Mincuzzi
In the shopping area, I spotted the unique Palazzo Mincuzzi, which is excellent to see from the outside and is home to some high-end shops. It was built between 1926 and 1928 in the eclectic style of architecture and is said to be a symbol of commerce in Bari.
Arco della Corte del Catapano
In the old town, behind the Basilica di San Nicol, is the Arco della Corte del Catapano. I enjoyed seeing this arched former entrance to the residence of the Byzantine governor AKA Catapano. The location dates back to the 11th century; however, the current arch was rebuilt in 1930