Palazzo della Provincia is a palace in Bari, part of the larger monumental transformation project of the Lungomare Nazario Sauro during the first decades of the 20th century, which hosts today the Pinacoteca Metropolitana di Bari Corrado Giaquinto (Painting Gallery of Metropolitan City of Bari). SHORT HISTORY The Provincial Administration commissioned the design of its definitive headquarters in 1930. The palace, completed in 1936, is the result of the collaboration of the best Apulian architects of the time, coordinated by Luigi Baffa. Severely damaged during the Second World War, today the building houses the offices and the council chamber of the Provincial Administration, the Painting Gallery of Metropolitan City of Bari and the Archives of the city. ART AND ARCHITECTURE The building is characterized by eclecticism that recalls the neo-medieval civil architecture. The palace presents itself as an irregular quadrilateral, alternating Trani stone and red bricks. At the center of the rusticated base, there are five large round arches that give access to a portico in two-color marble. Beyond the upper floors, stands a clock tower, an allusion to the bell tower of the Cathedral of San Sabino, also visible from the Lungomare Nazario Sauro. The clock tower Read more [...]
All Museums in Bari
Teatro Margherita
Perched gracefully along the Adriatic coastline of Bari, Teatro Margherita stands as a striking emblem of the city’s cultural past and present. Once a theatre and cinema, now a revived museum and exhibition space, this elegant Liberty-style building rises from the sea on stilts, offering a unique fusion of architecture, history, and seaside charm. Its pastel façade, signature towers, and seaside setting make it immediately recognizable; inside, the layout and restored interior speak of ambition, innovation, and resilience. Visiting Teatro Margherita is more than a stop – it’s a journey through time, from Belle Époque grandeur to contemporary art, floating between land and sea. Short History of Teatro Margherita The Beginnings – From Wood to Concrete The story of Teatro Margherita begins with a predecessor: a wooden theatre named Varietà Margherita, opened on 5 October 1910. Built on the waterfront, that wooden structure was an early attempt to provide Bari with an entertainment venue distinct from the already established Teatro Petruzzelli. However, the Varietà Margherita had a tragically short life – just months later, in the early hours of 22 July 1911, it was destroyed by a violent fire that razed the building within an hour. Though the cause Read more [...]
