Bari Airport is both the gateway to Bari and the surrounding countryside of beautiful Puglia.
The south of Italy is foodie central, with sumptuous dishes extolling the virtues of amazing Italian cuisine wherever you turn. There’s also history aplenty, from cathedrals to museums, from castles to sun-kissed piazzas.
Savor street food
You can get a true taste of Italian coastal life by embracing the street food scene here. Wander through the old town and pop into local delicatessens to sample creamy burrata cheese and spicy salami. Stop at a bakery to try focaccia barese, a fluffy pizza-like bread topped with Puglia’s finest ingredients, or enjoy rich, homemade gelato in the sunshine as you amble through the narrow streets.
The old town is dotted with houses that double as makeshift restaurants. Watch the deft hands of women twist and shape orecchiette pasta, synonymous with the region, and serve you a plate of fresh pasta with sauce for a couple of euros.
Breathe in history
Stop for a look at the pilgrimage church of the Basilica of St. Nicholas. Dedicated to the saint whose legend became Santa Claus, the church houses his holy remains in an ornate crypt.
Admire the looming white facade of the Cathedral of St. Sabinus. Take a cooling break inside, a place where candles reflect off the white marble walls in the atmospheric main chamber.
The nearby 12th-century Swabian Castle is Bari’s iconic fortress. Honey-brown stone towers are flanked by palm trees while a refreshing sea breeze whips in from the coast. This ancient building is now an exhibition space, so get your culture fix at one of the many art exhibitions or events organized inside.
Discover ancient building techniques
Drive to Matera and unearth an underground city, home to some of the world’s oldest dwellings. Explore a warren of caves in the Sassi di Matera area across the gorge. Reconstructions of cave dwellings will give you a feel for life in this area, while houses are carved into the cliff-face, and rock churches boast perfectly preserved frescoes.
One of the area’s highlights are Alberobello’s famous ‘trulli’ houses. The white, conical dwellings are UNESCO-listed treasures. Learn how these beehive-shaped houses were built by peasants in the mid-14th century. Centuries later, the trulli are still intact.
Park in Lago Martellotta and follow the steps up to Piazza del Popolo, where the Belvedere Trulli lookout offers stunning views across the delicate peaks of these ancient dwellings. You can wander through the area of Rione Monti where more than a thousand trulli cascade down the hillside, and shop for woven shawls and mini trullos in the boutique shops that have popped up throughout the ancient houses.
Explore the food and history of the coastal city of Bari, the ancient towns of Puglia and the wider south of Italy with car rental at Bari Airport. Reserve direct today to start planning your adventure.
