Bari, Italy

Where History Meets the Horizon.

Cradled by the Adriatic Sea, Bari is a city of contrast—ancient walls and modern energy, sacred relics and seaside rhythms. It was once a gateway for Crusaders and pilgrims and it still feels like a crossroads—of faith, food and a fiercely rooted tradition.

“In Bari, you don’t just taste Italy—you taste time.”

— Anonymous

A coastal cityscape with historic buildings, church towers, and colorful white and beige houses along the shoreline under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Highlights

Bari offers a tapestry of experiences—faith, flavor, and folklore—stitched together by the sea. In the Old Town, narrow lanes wind past whitewashed houses and hidden piazzas, leading to treasures like the Basilica of St. Nicholas, where pilgrims and locals alike find moments of reflection. Beyond the cobblestones, the broader Puglia region invites with olive groves, vineyards and endless coastlines kissed by Adriatic light.

This is a place that feeds every sense: the aroma of focaccia warm from the oven, the sound of church bells echoing over rooftops, the taste of wines pressed from ancient vines. Whether you’re wandering Bari Vecchia, savoring handmade orecchiette, or simply pausing by the sea, you’ll find a city and a region that welcomes you with open arms and leaves you richer for the visit.

Interior of a historic church with stone arches, columns, and a decorated ceiling, showing pews facing an altar.

Basilica di San Nicola

At the heart of Bari Vecchia stands the Basilica di San Nicola, a beacon of faith and a symbol of the city’s soul. Built in the 11th century to house the relics of Saint Nicholas—the beloved figure known worldwide as Santa Claus—the basilica remains a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and Orthodox Christians alike. Its Romanesque façade, stark and powerful against the sky, gives way to an interior filled with marble, mosaics and the quiet glow of devotion.

Here, faith crosses borders. Pilgrims kneel before the crypt where the saint’s remains rest, while the upper church fills with the sound of chanting, incense drifting through shafts of light. The basilica is more than stone and relics—it is a living bridge between East and West, a place where centuries of belief, art, and community converge. To visit is to step into the heartbeat of Bari itself, where the sacred and the everyday walk side by side.

A cobblestone street in a Mediterranean village with white buildings, colorful flowers, and decorative bicycles under a bright blue sky.

Alberobello

Step into a fairytale village where history wears a whimsical crown. Alberobello is famous for its trulli—whitewashed stone huts topped with conical roofs that look like something out of folklore. Built without mortar, these UNESCO-protected homes date back centuries, their symbols painted in chalk and their walls cool against the southern Italian sun.

Stroll through the winding lanes of Rione Monti and Aia Piccola, where hundreds of trulli cluster together like a storybook come to life. Browse artisan shops tucked inside these tiny houses, sample local olive oil, and pause for a glass of wine beneath the shade of a fig tree. Alberobello isn’t just a place to see—it’s a place to feel the charm of Puglia distilled into one unforgettable village.

Street market with stalls selling baskets, ceramics, and souvenirs on a narrow alleyway in a European city.

Bari Vecchia

Bari’s Old Town is a living labyrinth, a place where history and daily life are so tightly woven you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. Narrow stone streets wind between whitewashed houses draped with laundry, opening suddenly into sunlit courtyards where children play and elders gather to talk. Centuries-old churches rise quietly from the maze, their bells echoing over rooftops, while the scent of focaccia and wood-fired bread drifts through the air.

Here, tradition is not preserved in museums but lived in plain sight. Women sit at their doorsteps, shaping orecchiette by hand the same way their grandmothers did. Local bakeries still use ovens that have served families for generations. Faith, food, and family define the rhythm of the neighborhood, giving visitors an authentic glimpse into southern Italian life. To walk Bari Vecchia is to step into a story that has never stopped being told—a soulful beginning to your Adriatic journey.

Aerial view of white buildings on a cliffside overlooking turquoise sea with a small beach below.

Polignano a Mare

Clinging to cliffs that plunge into turquoise waters, Polignano a Mare is one of Puglia’s crown jewels. Whitewashed houses seem to grow straight from the rock, their balconies opening to sweeping views of the Adriatic. Wander narrow streets that lead to hidden piazzas, then follow the sound of waves to discover sea caves carved into the cliffs below.

This is a town made for lingering. Taste its famous gelato on the seafront promenade, sip espresso in the main square, or simply watch the sunset paint the stone in gold and rose. Known as the birthplace of singer Domenico Modugno—who gave the world “Volare”—Polignano feels like a song itself: light, timeless and unforgettable.

View of a hillside town with white buildings and multiple church steeples, framed by green leaves in the foreground, under a bright blue sky.

Ostuni

Perched on a hilltop above olive groves and vineyards, Ostuni glows like a vision in white. Known as La Città Bianca, this medieval town is a labyrinth of chalk-painted houses, winding stairways and sunlit terraces that seem to tumble down the hillside toward the sea. Its brilliant façades reflect the southern Italian sun, giving the whole town an otherworldly glow.

Wander through narrow lanes that twist into hidden courtyards, pause in piazzas framed by Gothic and Baroque churches, and breathe in the scent of olive oil and citrus carried on the breeze. From the city’s edge, the Adriatic stretches endlessly into the horizon, a reminder of how deeply land and sea are intertwined here. Ostuni is more than a postcard—it’s a living, breathing masterpiece of Pugliese life.

Dave Koz in a warmly lit lounge or hotel lobby.

Why I Love Bari

White cursive signature reading 'Dave Koz' on a black background.

There’s something about Bari. It’s raw, real and unpolished—like a favorite leather jacket or a song you can’t stop humming. I love the way the city holds its past so close while still pulsing with life. The sea breeze, the shouting fishmongers, the holy hush of a candlelit church… it’s all there, living side by side.

And then there’s Puglia. The food, the light, the landscapes that feel painted. It’s Italy without pretense—just deep rooted joy. Bari greets you like a friend. Puglia makes you part of the family. And together? It’s not a vacation. It’s a revelation.