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City
of Bari - Italy
CITY
OF BARI
Bari was an important Roman municipality (Barium),
at first part of the Eastern Empire and then conquered
by Saracens and Bizantines. During the Napoleonic
age the city was widened so that today you can
easily distinguish the medieval part from the
modern one.
Rich in history and culture, Bari has got economic
resources coming from agricolture, commerce and
industry; trade with North African and Middle
Eastern countries is thriving thanks to its well-equipped
port and to its popular Fiera del Levante (Levante
Fair). |
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The Ancient City:
Surrounded by the ancient walls, the old
part of the city is a labyrinth of very
strict alleys winding between Porto Vecchio
and Gran Porto.
The so-called "bassi", i.e. very
clean houses with no lights lying on the
ground floor, are typical of the ancient
city. In the middle of the village you can
visit the Cathedral and the Basilica of
St Nicola. |
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The
Basilica of St Nicola (Patron Saint
of Bari):
It is the most popular example of the Apulian
Romanesque style. It was built in 1087,
the year when the sailors from Bari stole
St Nicola's mortal remains in Asia and carried
them to Bari.
The facade is made of white limestone; inside
the Basilica you can find medieval sculptures
such as the ciborium and the papal throne
called "Elia's Chair", both dating
back to XII century.
The embossed silver altar and the golden
wooden ceiling portray some episodes and
miracles of St Nicola's life. |
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The
Swabian Castle:
It is one of the monuments in the city visited
more than any others by tourists. Federico
II from Swabia ordered its construction
between 1233 and 1240; the Castle was built
on the ruins of a building dating back to
the Norman age.
The central part of the castle is made up
of a trapezoidal fortress with two towers
and some embattled towers. You get to an
inner courtyard, formed by a loggia with
two columns whose capitals are in eagle
shape, through a gothic portal and a columnade.
Here you can see the so-called Tower "del
semaforo" and the Tower of "minorenni".
Upstairs a memorial tablet reminds us the
visit by St Francesco. |
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Fiera
del Levante (Levante Fair):
Born in the year 1930, it takes place every
September.
The area where the Fair takes place is 300
square metres wide. In the same place about
thirty important national and international
events take place all year round. |
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Beach
hotels |
the most beautiful beaches
of Italy in the best hotels |
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