BARI HOTEL DEALS

BARI BREAKS

Bari is the capital of the Apulia (or Puglia) region of Italy. The city is considered as one of the top commercial and industrial leaders in Italy. In fact, people have come to know Bari as ‘California of the South’ due to its relatively amazing growth and leadership compared to other areas in the region.

Bari was founded between 1600 and 1100 B.C. by Illyrians, coming from the peninsula opposite of the Adriatic Sea. It is believed that the city got its name from that of Barione, the leader of one of these Illyrian groups.

Bari is both an ancient and modern city. The ancient part of the city, which is called ‘Bari Vecchia’ by the locals, is rich with history. This area has all the mediaeval monuments of any importance, like the Basilica di San Nicola, which is considered a top tourist attraction. Dedicated to the city’s patron Saint Nicholas, the basilica is the first and greatest of the many Norman churches built in the region. It is a place of annual pilgrimage for many people from every part of Italy and from all over the world.

There’s also the massive Swabian castle, which was built by the all-conquering crusader Frederic II. It has a quadrangular form, which holds two medieval queens’ courts – Isabella of Aragona and Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland. This spot, however, is closed to the public.

Other great sites worth seeing in the Old Town are the Lungomare (promenade), a railway station constructed in 1875; the Fiera del Levante, which is one of the largest fairs in Italy; and the ancient seafaring center.

The modern part of Bari, called ‘Murattiano,’ reflects the city’s more commercial side. Here, you can see the villas and the supermarkets.

Splitting the ancient from the modern area is a wide boulevard called the Corso Vitorrio Emanuele ll. It is straddled by the Piccinni Theatre, a red-bricked government palace and the Fizzarotti Palace.

Bari’s countryside is scattered with farms and residences, which often remind us of real castles. This part of Bari also features the ‘trulli’, traditional farmer’s houses with a conical shaped rooftop. The most famous trulli are those in Alberobello, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Alberobello is undoubtedly one the most picturesque towns in the world, for it is completely made up of little trulli houses.

The beaches in Bari also deserve a spot in your itinerary. Peschici in the Gargano region is a famous tourist base, with beaches, caves, bays and a sea favored by underwater fishing enthusiasts. Well-known to scuba divers are three islands and a number of rock formations, which make up the archipelago of the Tremiti.

When it comes to food, Bari cuisine offers raw sea products, vegetables, horse meat, and several kinds of pasta. Gastronomic traditions include local specialties such as the ‘ncapriata’, lamb, ‘orecchiette’, and ‘melanzanata.’ Some of Bari’s popular restaurants include Santa Lucia, Osteria delle Travi, Hosteria al Gambero, and Gyrosterria Yannis. Those seeking a lively, young crowd should visit Garg, which pumps out music into the early hours, and during the day provides a quiet ambience for those who’ve overindulged.

Shopping for souvenirs in Bari could be a bit tiresome if you don’t know where the tourist shops are located. Bari’s tourist shops are hidden in the old city. These tiny shops sell interesting stuff like small ornaments that were made out of rocks. These rocks, which are sold for at least $10 each, were carved into monuments that looked like those in Bari. Bari is also a great place to get a bargain – especially the local delicacies. There is also a host of stores in Bari that sell local delicacies at reasonable rates.

The city of Bari is open to visitors any time of the year. There’s plenty to do during all year round – you can spend a day on the beach or go horseback riding through the gorgeous countryside. There are festivities that last a year long like Easter celebrations, Fiera del Levante in September and performances in summer.

The most popular festival is the one celebrated in honor St Nicola on the second and third weekend in May. Locals dressed in Norman costumes, leave the castle for the basilica, where they re-enact the delivery of the St Nicholas’ bones to the friars.