Bari Vecchia & Basilica of Saint Nicholas
Bari Vecchia / Basilica di San Nicola
The labyrinthine old town of Apulia's capital. Two highlights are the handmade orecchiette pasta made by grandmothers in the streets and the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, which houses the origins of Santa Claus.
Bari Vecchia sits on a peninsula that juts into the sea, with narrow lanes that form a maze. The Basilica of Saint Nicholas was built in the 11th and 12th centuries and is a model of Apulian Romanesque architecture. Its underground crypt holds the relics of Saint Nicholas, the origin of Santa Claus. It attracts large numbers of Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims, and every year in early May there is a grand Feast of Saint Nicholas.
Nearby, along Strada Arco Basso, grandmothers make orecchiette (little ear-shaped pasta) by hand at their doorsteps every day, drying it and selling it. It is Bari's most down-to-earth scene, and you can buy a bag to take home. On the south side of the old town are the Norman-Swabian Castle and the Cathedral of San Sabino, and the seafront promenade is good for an evening walk. Keep an eye on your belongings in the quiet lanes of the old town at night. It is about a 15-minute walk from Bari Centrale station to the old town, and trains run directly from the airport into the city.
Opening hours
Old town open all day; St. Nicholas Temple about 07:00–20:30 (visits restricted during religious services)
Nearby sights
- Bari Cathedral (San Sabino)
- Norman-Swabian Castle of Bari
- Teatro Petruzzelli
- Bari Seafront Promenade (Lungomare)
- Conversano Castle & Old Town
- Polignano a Mare
- Grotta Palazzese
- Castellana Caves