Basilica of St Nicholas
The heart of the city and a pilgrimage site for Catholic and Orthodox Christians: the crypt holds the relics of St Nicholas, brought from Myra in 1087. Apulian Romanesque, with a plain façade and a solemn interior.
Guide · What to see in Bari
What to see in Bari on foot, starting from the Murat district
The Basilica of St Nicholas, the old town, the seafront and the Petruzzelli Theatre are all within a mile of Via De Rossi. This is our guide: what to see, how far it is, what to eat and where.
Walking distances
How far from Dimora Murat
| Place | Distance | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Via Sparano, the shopping streets | 450 m | 6 min |
| Piazza Umberto I | 600 m | 8 min |
| Arco Basso, the orecchiette lane | 700 m | 9 min |
| Norman-Swabian Castle | 750 m | 10 min |
| Petruzzelli Theatre | 800 m | 11 min |
| Bari Centrale station | 950 m | 12 min |
| Seafront and Teatro Margherita | 950 m | 13 min |
| Cathedral of San Sabino | 1 km | 13 min |
| Piazza del Ferrarese | 1 km | 13 min |
| Piazza Mercantile | 1.1 km | 14 min |
| Basilica of St Nicholas | 1.3 km | 17 min |
| Corrado Giaquinto Art Gallery | 1.5 km | 20 min |
Distances measured along walking routes on OpenStreetMap, starting from Via De Rossi 98.
Via De Rossi 98, 70122 Bari
The map is provided by Google Maps and only loads if you open it. Open in Google MapsThings to see
The places not to miss
Cathedral of San Sabino
The Romanesque cathedral a few steps from the basilica, with its crypt and the large rose window on the façade. Quieter than St Nicholas and worth an unhurried visit.
Norman-Swabian Castle
The fortress between the old and new towns, linked to Frederick II. It hosts exhibitions and guided visits, and is the handiest way into the old town from Via De Rossi.
The orecchiette of Arco Basso
In the lanes behind the castle, local women make orecchiette by hand at wooden tables outside their front doors. You can watch, take photos and buy them fresh.
Piazza Mercantile and Piazza del Ferrarese
The liveliest squares in the old town, full of outdoor tables from afternoon until late. Piazza Mercantile has the Column of Justice; from Piazza del Ferrarese you can climb up to the Muraglia.
The Muraglia
The walkway along the old sea walls, between Piazza del Ferrarese and the Basilica of St Nicholas. One of the best spots to look out over the harbour at sunset.
Seafront and Teatro Margherita
The long seafront promenade, perfect at sunset or for a morning run. The Teatro Margherita, built over the water, now hosts contemporary art exhibitions.
Petruzzelli Theatre
One of Italy's largest theatres, destroyed by fire in 1991 and reopened in 2009. Opera, ballet and concerts; the façade on Corso Cavour is worth a stop even without a ticket.
The Murat district and Via Sparano
The nineteenth-century grid town founded by Joachim Murat in 1813: Via Sparano and Via Argiro are pedestrian streets with shops, cafés and Art Nouveau palazzi. It's Dimora Murat's neighbourhood.
Corrado Giaquinto Art Gallery
The city's main art gallery, on the seafront, with Apulian and Venetian paintings from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. A good choice for a hot or rainy afternoon.
Bari in a day: our itinerary
- Morning: breakfast in the neighbourhood, then Via Sparano and Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the old town.
- Mid-morning: the Norman-Swabian Castle and, right behind it, Arco Basso with its handmade orecchiette.
- Midday: the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of St Nicholas, with its crypt.
- Lunch: warm focaccia or sgagliozze in the lanes, or orecchiette with turnip tops.
- Afternoon: Piazza Mercantile, Piazza del Ferrarese and a walk along the Muraglia, the old sea wall.
- Sunset: the seafront south from the Teatro Margherita, then drinks and dinner in the Murattiano.
The whole route is about 4 km, all on the flat. With two days, spend the second on the art gallery, the Petruzzelli Theatre and the sea.
What to eat, and where
- Focaccia barese with cherry tomatoes and olives: at Panificio Fiore, a historic old-town bakery (Strada Palazzo di Città 38), or El Focacciaro, near the seafront (Via Cognetti 43).
- Sandwiches and octopus: Mastro Ciccio, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 15, halfway between Murat and the old town.
- Fresh orecchiette: buy them straight from the women who make them at Arco Basso.
- Sgagliozze and popizze, Bari’s fried street food, in the little squares of the old town.
- Fried panzerotti with mozzarella and tomato, and raw seafood on the seafront.
Opening hours can change: it’s worth checking before you go.
Getting here
From the station
From Bari Centrale station to Dimora Murat it’s about 950 metres, a 12-minute walk through Piazza Umberto I.
From the airport
The Ferrotramviaria train links Bari Palese airport to Bari Centrale station in about 20 minutes; from there it’s a walk. Buses and taxis are also available.
By car
There is no private parking: in this area you park on the street, in the paid municipal blue bays.
Frequently asked questions
What should I see in Bari in one day?
The old town with the Basilica of St Nicholas, the Cathedral and the Castle, the orecchiette of Arco Basso, Piazza Mercantile and the Muraglia, then the seafront at sunset. It’s all walkable, about 4 km in total.
Can you explore Bari Vecchia on foot?
Yes, and it’s the best way: the old town is a maze of lanes closed to cars. From Via De Rossi the nearest entrance, by the Castle, is about 750 metres away.
How far is the Basilica of St Nicholas from the Murat district?
From Dimora Murat it’s about 1.3 km, a 17-minute walk through the old town.
Where to stay in Bari to explore the centre on foot?
The Murat district sits halfway between the station and the old town. Dimora Murat, on Via De Rossi, is a studio with a kitchen and private courtyard less than a kilometre from the city’s main sights.
Stay in Bari, a short walk from everything
A studio with an equipped kitchen and private courtyard in the Murat district. Book on our website and deal directly with us.