Bari’s Old Town

Bari is split into two towns – the old and the new towns.   In the middle of these differing towns is the boulevard called Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.   This boulevard has three distinct building well worth a look when staying in Bari.

The first is the government palace called piazza Prefettura which is constructed of lovely red brick.  Secondly, there is the Piccinni Theatre which is named after a composer from Bari.  Thirdly, is the Fizzarotti palace which is a Venetian style palace built so elegantly beautiful.  On the boulevard there is also a fashionable and trendy shopping area called via Sparano.

The Adriatic Sea surrounds the Old Town on 3 sides and has in its centre the Basilica of Saint Nicholas.  This is a must see on your stay in Bari.  There are many Norman churches in Puglia, but this was the first and disputably the greatest of them.

Furthermore Bari’s Old Town has a massive castle which was built by the crusader Frederick II.  It is quadrangular in shape and hosted two medieval queens; Isabella of Aragona and Bona Sforza (who was the Queen of poland).

The Old Town of Bari’s labyrinth of tight streets, lanes, courtyards and arches is beautiful in itself.