Between 847 and 871, Bari was under Arab domination, and in 875 it was reconquered by the Byzantines. Starting with 1068, the city was besieged by the Normans, who conquered it from the Byzantines in 1071. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, it was the port of departure for the Crusades. Read More [...]
Later, Bari became part of the Kingdom of Naples. At the beginning of the 19th century, the city flourished under Joachim Murat, Napoleon's brother-in-law and King of Naples, and developed into the most important port of the region.
GEOGRAPHY: Bari is the capital city of the Apulia region and the second most important economic center of the Southern Italy, after Naples. The city has a population of about 325,000 and an area of about 116 square kilometers.
Bari is located 260 kilometers east of Naples, 435 kilometers southeast of Rome, 675 kilometers southeast of Florence, 735 kilometers south of Venice and about 875 kilometers southeast of Milan.
TRANSPORT: The closest airport is Karol Wojtyła Airport, located about 10 kilometers north of Bari. From the airport, one of the most convenient ways to get to Bari is by train, with one of the trains of the private company Ferrotramviaria (Ferrovie del Nord Barese). A one-way ticket costs 5€ and a trip takes about 20 minutes.
In Bari, you can travel by bus, with one of the buses of the local public transport company AMTAB. A single ticket costs 1€ or 1.5€ if bought on board. A daily ticket costs 2.5€ and is valid from the first to the last bus of the day.
LANDMARKS: The most important tourist attractions of the city are located in Bari Vecchia (Old Bari). Here, you can find the Bari Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Sabinus of Canosa, and the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, where the relics of the saint are held. Other interesting things to see in Bari are the Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo), the Petruzzelli Theater and the seafront, Lungomare Araldo Di Crollalanza.