Bari


Bari, Italian city of 319 482 inhabitants, is the capital of the one of the most beautiful region in the world, Puglia.

The city offers several possibilities to those who live in thanks to its deep historical identity and its current dynamicity.

Bari owns Italy's most extended seaside, embellished by huge Mussolini's period buildings. The sea breeze blows in the historic center, guardian of art, flavors and colors.

The historical centre of Bari, full of historical and current streets and buildings, is a city in the city, including around 30 churches and beautiful architectures. "Old Bari" (Bari Vecchia) is the ancient heart of the city, between the scent of laundry, freshly baked focaccia and fresh pasta placed to dry in front of the doors in the typical "Arco Basso". The old city hosts the main monuments of the city, as the Saint Nicolas Basilica, Saint Sabino cathedral and Norman-Swabian castle.

The proper center of the city also includes the new Borgo Murattiano, of more recent construction.

As typical nineteenth style, with a "chessboard style" architecture and large roads, it hosts several shops, restaurants and bars.

The biggest public park in Bari is Parco 2 Giugno. Other green zones are the Pineta di San Francesco, public gardens in Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Umberto I, both in the city centre, and the big park built on the seaside in the district named "Punta Perotti".

Free beaches are easily available, as Pane e Pomodoro and Torre quetta.

History and Religions


The city is full of art, which contributed to donate, through centuries, a remarkable historical patrimony, mainly architectonic.

Bari is also famous for being the city where Saint Nicolas relics rest, stolen from Myra.

Such condition made Bari and its Basilica one of the main places for Ortodox Church in the Western Europe.

Symbol of the city, the basilica is situated in the centre of the old city, built between 1087 and 1197. Its structure is one of the main and most famous example of Puglia's Romanic architecture.

Really important for city's patrimony are the three main theatres: The Piccinni (the most ancient), the Petruzzelli (fourth in Italy for dimensions, victim of arson in 1991, was opened back only in 2008) and the Margherita, but also two soccer stadiums, the "San Nicola" and the"Arena della Vittoria".

Other peculiar examples are the "Palazzo dell'acquedotto", not too far from the seaside and Palazzo Mincuzzi, in Murat district.

Saint Nicolas feist


Celebrations in honor of the patron saint of the city, St. Nicholas, are held from 7 to 9 May, many pilgrims devoted to the saint flock to the city. To commemorate the ancient arrival of the relics of St. Nicholas, the historical parade of St. Nicholas is held on the evening of the eve.

On the occasion of the festival, which traditionally takes place for three days in May, the percussionists, appearances and flag-wavers parade along the streets of Bari between choreography and staging.

On the day of the festival, the solemn procession takes place in which the statue of the Saint is carried to the pier and then transported to the sea by a procession of boats.

All religious rituals are immersed in a profane setting of lights and embellishments and band concerts, which contribute to creating a suggestive atmosphere.

San Nicola is also celebrated in Bari on December 6, the anniversary of his death. An important event is the atmosphere that is created in the old city at the first light of dawn.

Nightlife


The nightlife of the city is concentrated in the area of ​​Piazza Mercantile, Piazza Ferrarese, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where we find most of the bars and restaurants or in the University area near the "Polytechnic of Bari".