Puglia’s answer to Naples, historic Bari is the largest town on the long heel of Italy’s boot and a major ferry port. The modern city, dating from the early 1800s, is well-heeled and smart, with luxury shopping along its straight avenues and seafront promenade, but the main sights lie in and around the compelling warren of alleys and courtyards of the old town.
The Basilica di San Nicola, named for the original Santa Claus, is Bari’s main sight, built between 1087 – 1180 and the stunning prototype for many of Puglia’s Romanesque churches. Nearby is the austere Cattedrale di San Sabino and the massive 13th-century bulk of the Castello Svevo, while the Museo Archeologico has some fine Greek vases.