What to see in old Bari in just one day, what not to miss, where to taste the best orecchiette and where to see them made, finally do not miss a tour of the Church of San Nicola.
Old Bari is a reality in constant ferment, after having been for years an area abandoned to itself and perhaps even dangerous ... Today Bari old is a pleasant discovery for the many tourists and vacationers, but also for the locals or the immediate vicinity who he spends his evenings in this important neighborhood. The rebirth began in the 90s, when an attempt was made to focus on the exaltation of the architectural beauties of the historic city center. A point in favor is also the proximity to the famous port of Bari which is one of the main ports of call in our country also for the cruise ships that dock there daily, as well as for the numerous ferries from Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and 'Albania.
Bari Vecchia is located between the Murattiano district and the sea: it is a maze of alleys where it is possible to discover 40 churches and small churches and 120 votive shrines. Obviously along the streets you can meet some old women intent on making the famous hand-made orecchiette, a typical and beloved dish by Bari and beyond.
Entering from Piazza del Ferrarese, you can admire on the right the old covered fish market and on the left the Murat Room (name that derives from Gioacchino Murat who under the Napoleonic period gave prestige to Bari), room currently used for contemporary art exhibitions. In the square, ancient traces of the Via Appia-Traiana have recently been discovered.
Natural continuation of Piazza del Ferrarese is Mercantile Square overlooked by the Palazzo del Sedile, ancient place where the nobility of Bari met. Dominates the square there Column of Justice, a place where fraudulent debtors were once abandoned to the will of the people. Yet Simi Palace, seat of the Operational Center for the Archology of Bari, which hosts temporary exhibitions of art, while on the ground floor there is a permanent exhibition of an archological nature that illustrates the evolution of the city of Bari.
The main churches of Bari Vecchia are the Cathedral of San Sabino from 1034 (Byzantine period), rebuilt between 1170 and 1178 which boasts a dome of 35 meters high. The Cathedral is a classic example of Apulian-Romanesque and inside we find some traces of the original mosaics present once on the floor.
Can not miss the Basilica of San Nicola, also a clear expression of the Apulian-Romanesque, built in 1087 to house the relics of the patron saint of the city. Today it is a real destination for pilgrims from all over the world, devoted to St. Nicholas, but especially for Russian Orthodox citizens with whom the city of Bari has strong relationships.
Very pretty is also there Church of San Marco dei Venenziani, erected to thank the Venetians for having freed the people of Bari from the occupation of the Saracens in 1002; as well as the Monastery and Church of Santa Scolastica of more recent construction (between the eighth and eleventh centuries) in which there is also a small museum of sacred furnishings and cimiles.
Finally, do not miss a stroll along the city walls with a splendid view of the seafront and harbor, perhaps munching the typical Bari focaccia, which you can find here almost everywhere. Obviously, inside Bari vecchia you can also find nice little shops selling handicrafts and local products, restaurants, bars where you can relax with a pleasant aperitif, ice cream parlors ... but that's another story.
