Bari

From the Bari International Airport Karol Wojtyla:

Taxi - Taxis are available outside the Arrivals Hall.

Bus - The Amtab Bus No. 16 offers service to/from city center, and the Tempesta Bus Co. links with the central railway station. From there goes bus nr 20 to the cruise terminal of Bari.

The port of Bari with a new cruise terminal is situated NW of the old city and its boundaries are, on the West side, the Saint Cataldo quay and, on the East side, the new Foraneo quay.

The city of Bari has a lovely old town area within (20 minutes) walking distance of the port (although there are shuttles available, as well as taxis).

Printable map to take along.

Bari is best explored on foot.

Bari is made up of different urban sections. To the north, the closely built old town on the peninsula between two modern harbors, with the splendid Basilica of San Nicola (Saint Nicholas), the Cathedral of San Sabino (1035 - 1171) and the Castello Svevo of Frederick II, is now also one of the major nightlife districts. This historic part of town, in the north of Bari, is home to many ancient buildings of religious and historical interest. The neighborhood has a distinctly medieval feel, as it is filled with churches from the Middle Ages. The Murattiano section to the south, the modern heart of the city, is laid out on a rectangular gird-plan…

Situated in Italy's heel – famous for its beaches, hill towns and fabulous food – is an increasingly popular tourist destination. Commercial and administrative capital of Puglia, a university town and southern Italy's second city, Bari has its fair share of interest. Bari's rich cosmopolitan past – embracing Byzantine, Norman, Arabic, Angevin and Pisan culture – is reflected in the city's glorious architecture, especially the remarkable 12th-century basilica dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Nicholas.

La città Vecchia (The old city) The extraordinary old city largely consists of narrow and winding streets. Here you will find all the important medieval monuments, such as the Swabian castle and many churches, including the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola. Il Castello svevo (The Norman-Swabian Castle) This building was begun by Roger II (1139) and destroyed at least twice by the people of Bari, in protest again the tyranny of the Normans. Frederick II rebuilt it almost completely between 1233 and 1240.

Basilica di San Nicola The basilica was constructed between 1087 and 1197, and has always held the remains of San Nicola (who is also known as Santa Klaus). It is both a Catholic and an orthodox church, and partly, for this reason, is a place of annual pilgrimage for many people from all over the world. Price: Free entry.

Cattedrale di San Sabino This building was originally built in Byzantine style in 1062, and rebuilt in a Romanesque form in 1170 after the destruction it had undergone at the hands of William the Evil in 1156. Price:Free entry Bari's oldest festival celebrates its patron Saint Nicholas with a lurid, noisy parade on 8 May, preceded by the Processione dei Pellegrini, the procession of pilgrims to the sea. Easter is marked by a week of parades of mournful brass bands and religious icons. The Fiera del Levante is a more recent creation, designed to celebrate Bari's trade links with the(far/near) East. Throughout the summer, a wide range of music…

There are little mini sightseeing trains in Bari, waiting at the port. about 5 to 10 minutes walk from where you are docked: an hour and a half tour through old Bari, dropping you off right at your ship when the tour has concluded. 15 Euro.

Puglia, especially the Terra di Bari is justly famous for its Romanesque cathedrals and churches: the towns of Altamura, Barletta, and Bitonto are recommended, accessible by a slow but picturesque local train from Bari. Altamura dramatically sited on the edge of the High Murge escarpment is also famed for its bread. The bakers of the Città del Pane was recently awarded a DOP to safeguard their delectable creations noted for their thick, crisp crusts and deep yellow dough. Visit the bakery and shop of Fratelli di Gesù (via Eleonora Pimentel 17, Altamura, 080 314 1213) for a tasting.

The sweltering port town of Brindisi is around 60 miles south of Bari, and is traditionally regarded as the gateway to the Greek Ionian islands (ferries to Corfu, Patras and Igoumenitsa are the most frequent). Nowadays, however, it is also the point of entry for tourists holidaying in a trulli, the distinctive, hive-shaped and whitewashed buildings for which southern Puglia is renowned.