Things to do in Bari

Bari is Puglia's capital and its working port. It's a city people fly into rather than dream about, until the old town changes their mind. Bari Vecchia is a knot of medieval lanes between two harbours, running on its own rhythm.

The old town

The Basilica di San Nicola holds Saint Nicholas's relics. Bari's own sailors carried them from Myra in 1087. The crypt was consecrated within two years, and pilgrims from both Catholic and Orthodox worlds still come for it.

• Castello Svevo. A Norman fortress rebuilt by Frederick II in the 1230s, moated and squat over the old walls.
• Strada delle Orecchiette. A single lane where women shape pasta by hand on doorstep tables, daily, not for show.
• The Lungomare. One of Italy's longer seafront promenades, the city's evening walk from the old town to the new.

What the city is a base for

Bari's own sights fill a day; the region fills the rest. Alberobello, Martina Franca, Locorotondo and the Itria Valley towns sit under an hour away. Matera is close enough for a day trip too.

The port also runs ferries east, to Albania, Montenegro and Greece. Locals and travellers share the same boats.

Practical

• Weather. Summer highs reach 30C in July and August; winter days stay near 12C, with nights closer to 5C.
• Food. Focaccia barese and orecchiette are the city's own dishes, sold by weight rather than the plate.
• Old town at night. Bari Vecchia gets genuinely lively after dark; parts of it feel closed up by day.
• Getting around. The centre is walkable; day trips into the Itria Valley need a car, driver or organised tour.
• The basilica. Modest dress is expected inside, and the crypt keeps its own, separate opening hours.