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If you’re planning on going to Italy this summertime, chances are you’re imagining Rome and its marvelous Colosseum, Venice with its winding canals, or perhaps the Amalfi Coast and its pastel-hue towns, not a lesser-known Bari.
Found in Puglia, an underrated region in the heel of the ‘boot’, Bari has all the Vintage allure and coastal beauty you ‘d expect from an Italian trip, except it’s significantly cheaper and less crowded (and if we may add, far more genuine).
Among the factors Bari has never ever delighted in the exact same appeal as the other Italian hotspots is a historic lack of Transatlantic flights:
If they understood it existed at all, Americans needed to very first land in Rome or Naples and after that board a 3 to 4-hour train to reach Bari. This summer, that all modifications:
Bari: A Single Flight Far From America Making great on its 2024 guarantee, Italian carrier Neos has actually released nonstop flights from New
York– JFK to Bari on June 4, linking Puglia to America for the very first time in air travel history. The long-awaited seasonal route has a frequency of one flight per week, and it will remain functional until October 15, with flights leaving from JFK every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. (regional time), and landing at Bari (BRI) on Wednesdays at 7:40 a.m.
Returning home, U.S.-bound guests can expect to take off from Bari on Wednesday at 11:35 a.m., arriving back to New York on the exact same calendar date, at 2:50 p.m. local time.
More on the flight itself, Neos has actually released their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this path, with a 28-seat Premium Economy (with a 2-3-2 row layout), and a 327-331-seat Economy with a 3-3-3-seat setup.
All seats have in-flight entertainment, and you can likewise purchase Wi-Fi packages during the 8h40 flight. Regarding fares, the cheapest seats in Economy start from $505.63 one-way.
< img width= "1200"height="1200"src =" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Woman-at-airport-with-passport-and-luggage.jpg.webp "alt ="Female at airport with passport and luggage "/ > One Of Italy’s A lot of Underrated Cultural Hubs Bari is among Italy’s biggest cities on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of Puglia(or Apulia ). With a city population of over 1.2 million individuals and plenty to provide on the cultural front, Bari is an excellent place to
visit. This is yet another among those sprawling seaside metropolitan areas divided in between a modern part and a picturesque Old Town, however opportunities are you’re more thinking about the latter:
In Bari’s case, Barivecchia is the maze-like historic center, resting on a headland in between 2 harbors and crisscrossed by stone-paved narrow streets. You simply never understand where they’ll lead: a stunning piazza bordered by coffee shops or an imposing Baroque cathedral?
Speaking of churches, the Basilica di San Nicola is probably the one spot you can’t lose out on. Dating back to the 11th century, this splendid edifice is an essential expedition site for Christians since it houses some of St. Nicholas’ remains.
Yep, Santa Claus himself. The San Sabino Cathedral is yet another medieval offering, featuring a marble-carved altar and a Romanesque facade. Within a brief 3-minute walk, you’ll find the excellent Castello Svevo, a fortress developed by the Normans in the 12th century.
Food lover Much?
In Piazza Mercantile, the heart of Barivecchia, there are a wide variety of historical coffee shops and laid-back risto bars serving conventional Puglian meals. It’s the ideal spot to soak in the old city’s environment and people-watch as you sip your macchiato.
Panzeropoli by Benny is a must-visit if you’re craving panzeroti, a remote cousin of the Argentinian empanada, and Bari’s coup de cœur as far as street food goes– and like many no-frills restaurants in Puglia, coming here for a fast lunch will set you back $7 tops.
< img width =" 800"height =" 800"src =" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pasta-Being-Prepared-In-Italy-Italian-Food-Southern-Europe.jpg.webp "alt="Pasta Being Prepared In Italy, Italian Food, Southern Europe "/ > For Puglia’s signature pasta, orecchiette all pugilese, you can’t go wrong with La Locanda di Federico, specifically with their wine pairings, and if you occur to be yearning some ice cream, Martinucci has a wide range of citrusy sorbet and creamy gelato tastes, and it’s best on the main square.
Bari Beyond The Historic Center
Far from the historical center, the Murat Quarter has lovely Belle époque architecture and leafy, pedestrianized boulevards lined with shops, and it’s also the home of Bari’s stately Teatro Petruzzelli, a highly ornamented opera house.
In the southern district, Parco 2 Giugno is an expanse of green perfect for unwinding walks in the middle of the Mediterranean nature, and it doubles as a picturesque picnic website.
If you have actually packed your running shoes, struck the Lungomare Nazare Sauro, a beautiful seafront boardwalk stretching for several miles along the Adriatic (it’s particularly gorgeous at sundown).
This is Puglia, afterall, so of course, you can combine your cultural exploration with some beach relaxation: simply south of the Old Town, Spiaggia Pane e Pomodoro( or Bread and Tomato Beach)is easily accessed with regional buses and has a sandy strip backed by beach bars and seafood trattorie.
Further south, Torre Quetta Beach is a lot more remote, though it’s likewise popular in summertime as a city hangout. Whether you’re coming here for a late-afternoon swim or an evening aperitif, the vibes will be unmatched.
Italy’s The majority of Stunning Blue-green Coast Is A Short Train Trip Away!
Last however definitely not least, no journey to Bari is complete without an excursion to other similarly gorgeous, smaller towns in Puglia.
In fact, Bari serves as a gateway to Italy’s the majority of underrated turquoise coast, with all the
charm of Amalfi, minus the insane prices, and you could quickly invest a whole week just village-hopping in the area. There’s Polignano a Mare, famous for its whitewashed houses clinging to cliffsides, only 30 minutes by train from Bari. Even more away, the more unusual Monopoli has a medieval quarter, an imposing castle, and scenic beaches hugged by crystal-clear waters.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alberobello is among the most unique towns in Italy. Its trulli houses, built from dry stone and topped with cone-shaped roofs, are a sight to witness. In Martina Franca, you can find Baroque palaces, boutique stores, and beach festivals.
If you’re staying in Barivecchia, the best-value accommodation is Casa vacanze LaCorte ByFrancy, a one-bedroom apartment or condo in the heart of the Old Town ($122 per night for 2 grownups).
Vinicius Costa Vini, our senior lead author at Travel Off Course, has over 60 + countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a propensity for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into useful stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This post originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Viewpoints expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, charge card provider, hotel, airline company, or other entity. This content has actually not been evaluated, approved or otherwise backed by any of the entities consisted of within the post.