Bari Travel Forum

while my husband is attending conference in Bari, I was thinking of venturing out of Bari.

I am looking for do-able day trips from Bari - out in the early morning and back by 8pm.... is there anything worth considering??

thanks

YES!

The strangest city in Italy is about an hour away in the neighboring region of Basilicata.
Take the private railway Ferrovia Appulo-Lucano (Station located on the left side of the piazza as you leave the main railway station) to Matera. Beware, you have to change trains at the halfway point on the outward trip. Just look for uniforms and say "Matera? Matera?"
Google Matera for a look at its strangeness. The place is truly remarkable and good for at least a day.

South of Bari is Lecce, one of my favotite Italian cities, capital of an over the top version of Baroque architecture, churches all over the place, and really a charming town full of nice people.

If you like Romanesque churches you should visit Trani and Molfetta, both on the main north-south railway line connecting Bari to points N-S.

Ostuni is a miragelike Arabian looking white city on a hilltop, accessible by bus from its valley rail sattion.

The tiny town of Otranto (emphasis on the first syllable) at the very tip of Puglia might be worth your time but it's a bit of a hassle to reach---private rail from Lecce to Maglie, then transfer to a bus. In Otranto you will find an imposing castle, a small frescoed Byzantine chapel, and a Romanesque cathedral with an amazing tree of life mosaic floor and a gruesome memorial to the martyrs of Otranto next to the beautiful renaissance organ.

Lecce is close enough on the direct train route to make it an easy and extremely pleasant trip. Beautiful place, lovely people. Also Otranto is quite remarkable. But I was sorry to only be able to have a quick peek at the church because it closes for a couple of hours at midday.

thks a million - i will try toaccomplish as per recoomendation. ANd I do like mosaic art - evenmoreo - I love the tree of life...
cheers - audrey

Hi there...We were just in Bari visiting the a small town my parents are from nearby. The great day we had visiting the " Grotte Di Casetellana " about an hour away may be a worthwhile trip for you...http://www.grottedicastellana.it/
Enjoy...