Italy - Bari, the start of an adventure
England to Italy - Bari, around £35 round trip ticket; sounds tempting. When I think of our getaway, three things come to mind: the Trulli houses in Alberobello, the chic towns bathed by the Adriatic Sea, and the pungent smell of fish making its way from the old port to Liberty Square to fight with the pleasing aromas of chocolate.
Located in the south of Italy, the capital of the Puglia region, Bari is the perfect place to start from the surroundings. So, we set it as a starting point for three beautiful destinations, and we will discover it on foot on the last day of the city break.
First on the list was Alberobello, known for Trulli, roundhouses with a conical roof. From the Central Station, I took the train, and for an hour and a half, I crossed the approximately 60 km among the vineyards and olive groves. Here and there, a Trullo in the gardens filled with aromatic herbs was preparing you for the meet with the fairytale town. We stayed for one night in the Rione Aia Piccola neighbourhood. Here we would discover an authentic, quiet Alberobello, which hid among the walls gnawed by winds and rains of unusual houses, stories of yesteryear. It seemed like we went back in time. Limestone boulders, carefully placed on top of each other without any binder, outline perfect homes for 400 families living in this area. On the other hand, about 1000 Trulli houses are perched in the Rione Monti neighbourhood, most of them hosting souvenir shops that delight you to cross their threshold.
Monopoli and Polignano a Mare followed. The first is a quiet town, perfect even for a half-day trip, a good place for an honourable lunch in the old centre or for a walk in the harbour guarded by ancient walls.
Bays bordered by high cliffs and beaches hidden from prying eyes make Polignano a Mare a special place. We admired from the height of the cliffs the waves that were breaking from the shore; we walked on the cobbled streets, guided by the tempting aromas that crept from the chic restaurants and cafes. We ate the best ice cream, and then we started with quick steps towards the train station, scared of the black clouds hovering in the sky.
Bari followed. After we rested a little bit, we had enough time to take his pulse. The Petruzzelli Theater, the most prestigious cultural building in the region, immediately caught our attention.
The following day, after breakfast, we walked along Lungomare, the famous promenade, admiring on one side the sea and on the other the buildings that house imposing hotels. The city spoiled us with dozens of kinds of chocolate prepared by master chocolatiers in Italy.
The fish market is an unmissable show. In the early morning hours, quiet fishers carefully clean fish and seafood without saying a word. Others, noisy, are ready to sell you their goods lying on makeshift stalls. Next to it, the colourful boats, most of them with a striking blue, are the perfect decoration.
To get from the airport to Bari, you have three options:
1. The fastest - the train. The ticket costs 5 euros. Trains run every 20-30 minutes. Connect the airport with Central Station (Bari Central). The journey takes 15 minutes.
2. The most economical - Bus 16. The ticket costs 1 euro / 1.5 euro if purchased from the driver. Buses run every 40 minutes. In about 60 minutes, you reach Aldo Moro Square.
3. Shuttle - For 4 €, in 30 minutes you will be at the train station in Bari (Central Bari). Tickets are purchasable from the driver. Circulate every 40 minutes between 5:00 and 24:00. The cheapest option is the train to get from Bari to Alberobello, Monopoli or Polignano a Mare.
Bari Centrale – Alberobello, The price of a ticket is 5 euros. The journey takes about 2 hours.
Bari Centrale-Monopoli, The price of a ticket is approximately 3.30 euros. The journey takes 30 minutes.
Bari Centrale-Polignano a Mare The price of a ticket is 2.5 euros. The journey takes about 30 minutes.
Between March 12-15, 2020, Bari hosts the Festa del cioccolato - The chocolate festival. The event takes place in Piazza Libertà, starting at 10 am until late in the evening. Educational workshops for children and adults are the favourites of those who want to know, thanks to the master chocolatiers, the techniques of chocolate processing.
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