Bari, Italy

Basilica of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

The city of Bari’s main attraction in Italy, which brought it worldwide fame, is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, built in the 11th century after the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker were brought to Bari. The basilica was built in the Romanesque style in the shape of a Latin cross. Both outside and inside, the basilica is adorned with embossed carvings, columns, and numerous sculptures. Near the entrance to the basilica, there is a statue of Saint Nicholas-once a year, during the celebration of Saint Nicholas’s Day, believers take the statue out of the church and solemnly march with it through the streets of Bari. In the lower part of the church, you will see the miraculous column that was brought from Turkey together with the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker- it is believed that touching this column promises healing from illnesses.

Russian Church in Bari

The Russian church dedicated to Saint Nicholas was built at the beginning of the 20th century specifically for Orthodox pilgrims. It is located in the Carrassi area. In 1911, the Imperial Orthodox Society commissioned architect Alexey Shchusev to build the church, the first stone of which was laid on May 22, 1913. Construction was completed already after the First World War. Since then, Russian pilgrimages have taken place here every year.

St. Sabina Cathedral

St. Sabinus Cathedral is the most important church in Bari after the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. It is the one people call the Duomo-that is, the city’s cathedral. It was built in the 13th century on the site of a Byzantine church destroyed by the Sicilian king William the Bad-no wonder it earned such a nickname! The rebuilt cathedral was dedicated to Bishop Sabinus of Canosa, a saint whose relics are kept here.

Norman-Swabian Castle

The first fortified structure on the site of this photogenic castle of strict lines in Bari was erected in the 11th century by the Byzantines to protect against the Saracens. The castle itself, which is commonly called the Norman-Swabian castle, was rebuilt on the ruins of an old fortress after the Normans conquered Bari in 1071. The relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker were kept here until the basilica in his honor was built. After the Normans came the Swabians, who managed to further strengthen the castle and build as many as nine towers. Under the Normans there were four. In the 19th century the castle was badly damaged, but it still reached us in fairly good condition; in the 20th century, a renovation was carried out. Today it is open to everyone-its walls offer beautiful views of the sea and of the entire city.

Spend a day at the beach

Thanks to a very long stretch of coastline washed on one side by the Ionian Sea and on the other by the Adriatic, there are enough beaches in Bari to accommodate everyone. The most famous and affordable beach in Bari is Pane e Pomodoro (literally “Bread and tomato”). It stretches along the Perotti seafront, not far from the city center. On the beach there is a café where you can order a soup called the same as the place. It was once typical food of Italian peasants-just as in those times, freshly baked ciabatta is mixed with a tomato mixture, dressed with olive oil, and seasoned with oregano. We recommend trying it!

Take a walk around the Old Town

To truly feel the authentic spirit of Southern Italy and witness the vivid everyday life of Bari’s local residents, it’s worth getting a little lost for a while in the old part of the city - the Bari Vecchia district, that is, Old Bari. In the medieval houses, there is still no running water; on the street, people, as centuries ago, fill up with water from fountains or taps. Another interesting detail is that in Bari Vecchia there are practically no entrance doors. So you’ll see all of Italy “from the inside out” right before your eyes. In the Old Town, it’s a must to visit a café with excellent seafood dishes - fish straight from the Bari port. Or stop by the local shops where homemade pasta is sold, especially the so-called “ear-shaped pasta” (orecchiette) - Bari’s and all of Apulia’s gastronomic symbol.

Visit the Pinacotheca collection

The Art Gallery (Pinacoteca) of Bari opened in 1928. It houses an impressive collection of paintings from the 11th-20th centuries from a wide variety of regions and collections, including private collections. A large section is devoted to medieval paintings; another focuses on the Venetian school of the 15th-16th centuries. There are also painting works by artists from Apulia, and good examples of the Neapolitan school of painting are on display as well. Among the most star-studded names here are the Venetians Tintoretto and Giovanni Bellini, Veronese, Antonio and Bartolomeo Vivarini, and the Neapolitan artist Luca Giordano.

To visit the Grottes de Castellana

Not far from Bari are the most famous karst caves in Italy with a similar name - the Grottes of Castellana. Right at the entrance to the caves there is a huge chasm 60 meters deep. In ancient times, local people called them the gates of hell. But in fact everything was explained by the fact that animals that got lost in the forest would slip off the cliff and die at the bottom. After that, an unpleasant smell would appear, which uneducated peasants interpreted as the stench of the underworld. The Grottes of Castellana were first explored in 1938 by the Italian speleologist Franco Anelli. He descended to the bottom of the cave and discovered a long underground corridor that revealed an entrance to caves of incredible beauty. Today, guided tour routes run through the caves, so you can visit at any time of year.

Bari city sightseeing tour

The excursion begins in the historic city center, where the Basilica of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is located, built in the Romanesque style. This religious building is a symbol of the Christian diaspora. The underground church inside the Basilica houses the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra Lycia- the most famous saint in the world. Next, you will take a walk through the narrow streets of the historic city center, enclosed by mighty walls. During the excursion, there will be an opportunity to visit the Cathedral of St. Sabino (11th-12th centuries), the castle of Frederick II Hohenstaufen (13th century), Piazza Ferraresi and Mercantile, the Orthodox parish of St. Nicholas, and stroll along the magnificent waterfront built during Mussolini’s era. Group 1 - 50 people, price - from 110,00 €.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can review them after booking the cruise in your “Client’s Personal Account”.