General info about Bari
THE TOWN OF BARI
The origins of Bari are very old, but not well established. Items dating to the Bronze Age have been found in the oldest part of the town; however, most of the historians agree that the town was founded between 1600 and 1100 B.C. by the Illyrians, coming from the Balcan peninsula, on the other side of the Adriatic sea. The name probably comes from "Barione" , the leader of one of the Illyrian groups.
The first reliable information regarding Bari dates back to the 4th century B.C. when it went under the Roman rule. In the following centuries the town kept up relationships with Rome and Tito Livio underscored its strategic importance.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Bari was involved in the war with the Goths, and later with the Longobards, against the Byzantines.
In the 9th century, after many raids, the Arabs succeeded the Longobards and settled in Bari for about 30 years, setting up an emirate. It lasted until 871 when the army of Ludovico II brought the city back under the Byzantine rule, although this did not meet with the people's favour. In 1071 the city was conquered by the Normans, led by Roberto il Guiscardo, and became part of the dukedom of Apulia and Calabria.
This was the beginning of an important period in the history of Bari. In 1087 St. Nicholas' holy remains were taken from Myra (Turkey) by a group of sailors and brought to Bari, where the building of a dedicated Basilica was decided and started immediately. In 1089 the remains were brought by Pope Urbano II into the yet to be completed crypt of the Basilica (the whole Basilica was completed after about 100 year).
Bari and the dukedom of Apulia and Calabria subsequently fell under the domination of the Norman King of Sicily, whose dynasty shortly came to the end and was replaced by the Hohenstaufen Swabians; this was the period in which Frederick II (later crowned also Emperor of Germany) reigned. He loved Apulia (he was called "puer Apuliae") and built or restored many castles in the regions, among which the castle in Bari and the famous and mysterious Castel del Monte (on the top of a hill, about 50 km from Bari). Angevin and Aragon rulers followed for about three centuries. Toward the end of this period, in the 16th century, two women had an important role in the history of Bari: Isabel of Aragon, widow of the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Sforza, who enlarged the castle making it her private residence, and Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland, who established strong links between Bari and the Cracow court.
Following Bona Sforza's death, Bari was again included in the kingdom of Naples, ruled by a Spanish viceroy. That was a long period of decadence for Bari and the south of Italy. Led by Napoleon Bonaparte the french came.
Led by Napoleon Bonaparte, the French came to this part of Italy, and his brother-in-law Jacques Murat's became King of Naples. Under Murat's rule, Bari started to grow shortly becoming the most important city of the region. In 1808 Murat decreed the building of the new part of the city, a modern district which was called "Murattiano". At the end of the French rule, the Bourbons came back and reigned until the unification of Italy, in 1860. Bari is now the first city and administrative capital of the region of Apulia with about 350,000 inhabitants.
WEATHER & CLOTHING
June in Bari is generally quite mild with average minimum temperatures between 25° to 16° C and average maximum temperatures between 26° to 17° C.
CURRENCY BANKS
The Italian currency is the euro (€ ). There are numerous ATM with 24- hour service cash dispensers in the city. An Exchange counter is available at the airport. Major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and stores. Banks are opened from Monday to Friday: 8.20 am – 1.20 pm and 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm
ELECTRICITY
Electrical current in Italy is 220 volts, 50-cycle AC. Italian outlets take only round-prong plugs. Appliances designed to operate on 110/120 volts need a voltage converter and a plug adapter. TIME The time in Italy is Central European Time (Summer Time GMT +1).
SHOPPING
Bari is a modern commercial city. The pace of life is dominated by the rhythms of work, especially of commerce, its main source of wealth. Due to its "vocation" for commerce, in Bari there are many shops and stores of every kind.
FOOD
The traditional cooking of Apulia owes its success to the most basic products of the region: durum wheat, tomatoes, olive oil, wine, fish and meat. Each of these staple ingredients is the foundation for a numbers of recipes that make the local cuisine so varied. Special fragrant scents from both land and sea are expressed with all their delicacy in the Apulian cuisine. Bread from the Gargano and the Murgia, the durum wheat pastas, the locally grown vegetables, grapes and cherries, the extra virgin olive oil and almond sweets all deserve prime consideration. They should be accompanied with our famous local wines.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
The origins of Bari are very old, but not well established. Items dating to the Bronze Age have been found in the oldest part of the town; however, most of the historians agree that the town was founded between 1600 and 1100 B.C. by the Illyrians, coming from the Balcan peninsula, on the other side of the Adriatic sea. The name probably comes from "Barione" , the leader of one of the Illyrian groups.
The first reliable information regarding Bari dates back to the 4th century B.C. when it went under the Roman rule. In the following centuries the town kept up relationships with Rome and Tito Livio underscored its strategic importance.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Bari was involved in the war with the Goths, and later with the Longobards, against the Byzantines.
This was the beginning of an important period in the history of Bari. In 1087 St. Nicholas' holy remains were taken from Myra (Turkey) by a group of sailors and brought to Bari, where the building of a dedicated Basilica was decided and started immediately. In 1089 the remains were brought by Pope Urbano II into the yet to be completed crypt of the Basilica (the whole Basilica was completed after about 100 year).
Following Bona Sforza's death, Bari was again included in the kingdom of Naples, ruled by a Spanish viceroy. That was a long period of decadence for Bari and the south of Italy. Led by Napoleon Bonaparte the french came.
Led by Napoleon Bonaparte, the French came to this part of Italy, and his brother-in-law Jacques Murat's became King of Naples. Under Murat's rule, Bari started to grow shortly becoming the most important city of the region. In 1808 Murat decreed the building of the new part of the city, a modern district which was called "Murattiano". At the end of the French rule, the Bourbons came back and reigned until the unification of Italy, in 1860. Bari is now the first city and administrative capital of the region of Apulia with about 350,000 inhabitants.
WEATHER & CLOTHING
June in Bari is generally quite mild with average minimum temperatures between 25° to 16° C and average maximum temperatures between 26° to 17° C.
CURRENCY BANKS
The Italian currency is the euro (€ ). There are numerous ATM with 24- hour service cash dispensers in the city. An Exchange counter is available at the airport. Major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and stores. Banks are opened from Monday to Friday: 8.20 am – 1.20 pm and 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm
ELECTRICITY
Electrical current in Italy is 220 volts, 50-cycle AC. Italian outlets take only round-prong plugs. Appliances designed to operate on 110/120 volts need a voltage converter and a plug adapter. TIME The time in Italy is Central European Time (Summer Time GMT +1).
SHOPPING
Bari is a modern commercial city. The pace of life is dominated by the rhythms of work, especially of commerce, its main source of wealth. Due to its "vocation" for commerce, in Bari there are many shops and stores of every kind.
FOOD
The traditional cooking of Apulia owes its success to the most basic products of the region: durum wheat, tomatoes, olive oil, wine, fish and meat. Each of these staple ingredients is the foundation for a numbers of recipes that make the local cuisine so varied. Special fragrant scents from both land and sea are expressed with all their delicacy in the Apulian cuisine. Bread from the Gargano and the Murgia, the durum wheat pastas, the locally grown vegetables, grapes and cherries, the extra virgin olive oil and almond sweets all deserve prime consideration. They should be accompanied with our famous local wines.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
| GENERAL EMERGENCY | 113 |
| CARABINIERI (CIVIL POLICE EMERGENCY SQUAD) | 112 |
| FIRE BRIGADE EMERGENCY CALL | 115 |
| EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID | 118 |
| POLICE | +39 080/5291111 |
| BARI PALESE AIRPORT | +39 080/580.02.00 / www.pugliairports.it |
| PORT AUTHORITY | +39 080/5281511 / www.porto.bari.it |
| ITALIAN RAILWAYS | 892021 / www.trenitalia.com |
| RADIO TAXI | +39 0805346666 |