Things not to miss during a stopover in Bari
The province of Bari
Bari, the capital of the Puglia region in southern Italy, is an important tourist port for cruises in the Adriatic. Its active and modern port welcomes cruise ships from large companies such as MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises all year round, as well as yachts and other small pleasure boats. To spend an unforgettable stopover in Bari, follow the guide.
The unmissable visits during a stop in Bari
When you arrive at the port of Bari, it takes 20 minutes on foot to reach the city center. You can also go by shuttle or taxi. Start your visit in the historic center. In the heart of the historic center is the famous Basilica of San Nicola, built in 1197 in the Romanesque style typical of Puglia. The religious building houses the relics of Saint Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of the city. Nearby, contemplate the church of San Gregorio built between the 10th and 11th centuries.
Continue your walk in Bari to the Norman-Swabian castle, the symbol of the city. Built by the Normans in the 12th century to protect the city, this medieval fortress has been extended several times over the course of history. Today it is used to host exhibitions, concerts and festivals.
After having explored the historic center of Bari, we continue with a visit of the modern city. Then take a stroll in Piazza Ferrarese, surrounded by notable buildings such as the Palazzo dell’Antica Pescheria and Palazzo Starita. Before reaching the port, walk along a 10km stretch of the promenade overlooking the beach and the dam.
It is also possible to take a tour of the city of Bari with a small tourist train. For your next beach holiday, discover on cruises.com a wide choice of Mediterranean cruises that stop over in the city of Bari.
Discover the trulli of Alberobello
The cruises that stop in Bari are an opportunity to discover the trulli. It is a type of conical construction in dry stone, characteristic of Puglia. These houses have been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. To enjoy these trulli it is possible to organize a bus trip to the town of Alberobello, located about 50 kilometers from Bari.
Once in Alberobello, take a walk in the Monti district, where there are almost 1,000 trulli used as a home or a craft shop. Also visit the Aia Piccola district, which preserves about 400 authentic trulli. These tours are also an opportunity to buy handicrafts and taste the Apulian specialties, including orecchiette, a kind of pasta in the shape of small ears with turnip greens.
Excursion to Matera, the “city of the Sassi”
Reachable in about an hour by car from Bari, the city of Matera is a great option for an excursion during the stopover. Located on the edge of Basilicata, this medieval city impresses with its churches and rock monasteries built in the “Sassi”, an urban complex made up of terraced caves.
These amazing geological formations have been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Thanks to their authenticity and their mysterious atmosphere, they were used as the setting for Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004. In Matera you can also discover houses, shops and stables carved into the rock.
Enjoy a trip to the village of Locorontodo
From Bari it is possible to discover the town of Locorontodo also by bus. About an hour’s drive separates these two cities. In Locorontodo, explore the old city through Porta Napoli and admire its “cummerse”, traditional, narrow, rectangular white houses with sloping roofs made of chiancarelle.
Then walk through a labyrinth of winding streets to the central square. Along the way, take the time to visit some important churches such as the 19th-century Cathedral of San Giorgio and the 12th-century Church of the Madonna della Greca. Before returning to Bari, stop at one of the town’s restaurants to taste the local specialties. Taste, for example, u tridd, a plate of fresh pasta in broth with pecorino cheese and parsley
A small river named Duden
A small river named Duden
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