Bari, Italy | The Timeless Glory of Puglia

If Naples reigns over southern Italy, then Bari is the undisputed queen of the southeast. As the capital of Puglia, this coastal gem is the second-largest city in southern Italy’s Apennine region.🌅 🎢 You can explore the heart of Bari in just half a day. The Castello Svevo is one of its most iconic landmarks. Built in the 12th century by Norman King Roger II, it was destroyed in 1156 by the King of Sicily, only to be rebuilt and fortified 80 years later. Over the centuries, it underwent multiple transformations—first under Angevin rule, then gifted to the Sforza family by Ferdinand, Duke of Aragon, and even passed to a Polish noblewoman. Later, it was returned to the King of Naples and repurposed as a prison and military barracks. 🏰 🌇Strolling down Via Sparano toward the train station, you’ll find the striking Church of San Ferdinando, a neoclassical masterpiece with a narrow façade framed by three columns, topped with a triangular tympanum and a soaring clock tower. ⛪ Near the sea stands the Fortino di Sant’Antonio Abate, one of the four historic gates of Bari’s medieval walls. ⚠️Originally built during the 1071 Siege of Bari, a stone tower was erected here to guard the port—proof of the city’s enduring strategic importance. 🌊 #Bari#ItalyTravel