Bari - A Real Italian Port

The town of Bari is the second largest economic center in southern Italy as is one of Italy’s better known ports and university towns. However the economic importance of Bari seems to be a more modern occurrence as in ancient Roman times this was a town of lesser importance.

Today the city of Bari is a modern industrial port town with a proud people. The dialect is a bit rough when compared to other regions in Italy. Many of the towns traditions are centered around Saint Nicolas which is the town saint. When you travel around the Mediterrian many ports have some sort of statue erected to honor Saint Nicolas which is the saint of sailors and fishermen.

One of the sights of Bari is called Barivecchia which is the old part of Bari and is comprised of a sprawl of streets. Until recently this area was considered off limits to many of the local residents however with a new resurgence of new pubs and bars into the area this part of town is becoming a better place to visit and can be frequented by tourists as well.

If you are more into seeing churches and the like then you will not be disappointed as with all of Italy the town of Bari has their fair share. The most notable places to see in this town is the Basilica di San Nicola which is the church of Saint Nicolas. This church was founded all the way back in 1087 to receive the remains of the saint. The next most frequented church is the church of St. Sabinus which is the towns Cathedral. This Cathedral was started in 1034 then later destroyed in 1156. The building we see today was built between 1170 and 1178 and was inspired by the church of Saint Nicolas.

One of the best times to visit this city is when the Fiera del Levante takes place. This is one of the largest trade fairs in the Adriatic sea and is held in the month of September. It is more like a mini world’s fair that takes place in this part of the world. Certainly that should be of interest to just about everyone.