Bari (Italy)

Bari is the principal and the largest port of Southern Italy's Apulia region (Adriatic Sea) and also Bari Province's capital city with a population of around 330,000. Port Bari is Italy's second-largest cargo port (after Naples). However, by passenger shipping traffic, Italy's largest ports are Messina Sicily, Naples, and Reggio Calabria.

Port Bari (locode ITBRI) is a major Adriatic ferry port too. Regularly scheduled ferries link Italy (via Bari) with Albania (Durres), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Bar) and Greece (Igoumenitsa, Patras, Corfu Island, Kefalonia Island (Sami), Zakynthos Island). The companies serving these routes are GNV, Adria Ferries and Ventouris Ferries (to Albania/travel time 8-9-10 hours), Jadrolinija (to Montenegro and Croatia/crossing time 7,5-10 hours), and Ventouris Ferries and Anek-Superfast (to Greece/crossing times 8-11-13-17-19 hours).

As cruise port, Bari is year-round included in the schedules of the largest Mediterranean cruise companies - Costa and MSC, and also seasonally visited by ships of AIDA and TUI.

The city is well-connected with the rest of Italy via direct highways and railways linking to Rome, Milano, Bologna, Turin, and Venice, plus various Apulia cities (including Foggia, Barletta, Brindisi, Lecce, Taranto). Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (aka Palese Airport) is approx 8 km (5 ml) northwest from downtown and has annual passenger capacity ~4 million. Bari metro railway (commuter train) service consists of three lines linking to the San Paolo suburb (FM1), the airport (FM2) and Bitonto (FM3).

The city's best-known tourist attractions and landmarks include:

• botanical garden, Pomodoro Beach, two harbors with scenic waterfront promenades (Old Port, New Port) 
• churches - Santa Chiara (16th-century, now a museum), Chiesa di San Marco Dei Veneziani (12th-century), Santa Teresa Dei Maschi (17th-century), St Nicholas Basilica (11th-century), Cathedral (11th-century), Russian Church (20th-century)
• Conservatorio Niccolo Piccinni, theaters (Piccinni, Margherita, Petruzzelli), Castello Svevo (Swabian Castle, 12th-century).

Bari cruise terminal

Bari tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Historic Center: the old town (Bari Vecchia) is a great place for a visit. Wander inside the narrow streets to see amazing churches, beautiful squares, theaters or just have a coffee and take a look at the people.
• Basilica di San Nicola: the top attraction for tourists in Bari. It dates from 1087. The church has an amazing architecture with several different styles. There is a crypt with mosaics, it houses the saint’s tomb.
• Cathedral of Bari, San Sabino: it dates from the 7th century. It was reconstructed several times since then and now it features Romanesque and Baroque-style elements.
• Castello Svevo: dates from 1131. it was renovated by Frederick II in the period 1233-1240. Isabella of Aragon transformed it into a Royal Residence in the 16th century.
• Seaside Promenade: take a walk along the Lungomare Imperatore-Augusto.
• Shopping: the most famous shopping streets are Via Sparano, Via Manzoni, and Corso Cavour.
• Archeological Museum: or Museo Archeologico Nazionale. It is located between the university and a library. The address is Gioia del Colle, Castello Svevo, Piazza dei Martiri.
• Provincial Picture Gallery: or Pinacoteca Provinciale. It is along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro. The gallery displays pictures of old Bari and its surroundings. You can enjoy works of A. Vaccaro, Moretto da Brescia, Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Vivarini, C. Maratta, etc.