Bari Italy, Mediterranean Cruises Port Profile

When the monotonies of daily life soak you out of any sense of life, you can safely depend on one of those lesser known yet simply stunning tourist destinations like Bari. One of the main highlights of Bari is that it has the longest seafront in Italy. To add to it, this port city easily qualifies as one of the most beautiful port cities in the country, and is famous for its elaborate yet elegant layout of black wrought-iron street lamps that are interspersed with long palm trees. The scenic beauty and historic charm of Bari has made it a popular docking destination for many Mediterranean cruises. You too can enjoy all that this place has to offer by opting for one of these cruises.

What to do upon arrival at Bari

You will most probably be greeted with a welcome sign at the cruise dock when you arrive at Bari. Once you disembark the cruise, you should head to the passport control desk located inside the small blue terminal on the dock and get necessary clearances. Once all the formalities have been completed, you need to wait at the seating area of the terminal for a tour bus to pick you up and drop you off at the city centre. In the meantime, you can also check your mails at the internet café that is located just across the road from the gates of the cruise dock.
In case you are feeling a little hungry, you can head out to promenade from the dock gates and get some snack from one of the eateries that line the old city walls. You can even check with your cruise if it offers complimentary shuttle service from the dock gates to the city centre or to Avenue Corso Cavour.

Transportation in Bari

The best way to travel in Bari is on foot. However, if you do not prefer walking round the city, you can hop on one of the shuttle buses that ply along various routes in new and old part of the city.
Yet another convenient mode of transportation in this port city that you can use to get around is the mini train tours system, These begin from the dock entrance and offer a one and a half hour tour of the city including some of its most popular landmarks such as the harbor, Old Town and other places of interest.
You can even take a metered taxi right from the dock gate and head out to the place you want to go if you already have a sightseeing itinerary ready with you. You can hire these cabs for a roundtrip; and do not forget to negotiate on the waiting time charges!

Popular places of interest in Bari

Bari is home to some of the most famous churches in the country. This includes the 11th century Basilica of St. Nicola that is known for its wonderful painted ceiling and the crypt that contains the remains of Saint Nicholas. Another must-visit church that is located in the Old Town is the 12th century Cathedral of San Sabino. Once you are done visiting these two churches, you can take a trip of the area and visit some other chapels and shrines located in the area. The Church of San Marco that was founded by the Venetians deserves a special mention here. You can also visit the Chieso del Santa Maria del Carmine Church if Baroque architecture manages to capture your fancy. Some other popular landmarks that you should include in your Bari itinerary are the Norman-Swabian Castle that is located just outside the Old City walls.

Shopping in Bari

Those looking for some retail therapy in Bari can head to the New Town or the Old Town and find quite a few bargains. While the 19th century grid layout of the New Town makes it more tourist friendly, you may get confused about directions while shopping in the stores that line the alleys in Old Town. If you are looking for some swanky fashion clothes and accessories or for quality ceramics and gift items, you should stick to the shopping streets in the New Town. However, for local products that are an example of Italian artisanship, you need to head to the Old Town.

Dining in Bari

Whether it comes to sampling local delicacies in Bari or indulging in a sumptuous spread of multi cuisine specialties, you can find it all in the restaurants in this city. Most of the local dishes are made of stable food items – olive oil, wheat and wine.
The pasta and calzone serves in the eateries in this city are a must-have for any food lover. You can find a number of good eateries in both New Town and Old Town. Most of the good places to eat are located close to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Some of the top restaurants in town include the Terranima Ristoro Pugliese and Ristorante Alberosole that are known for their Italian grub. For some light lunch that is equally light on the pocket, you can head to the Caffe' Borghese located at 130 Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Travel Tips for Bari

Though Italian is the official language spoken in Bari, most locals understand English. Nonetheless, it will still be handy to carry along a phrasebook so that you are not stuck in any situation due to language barrier. It would help you to memorize some common Italian phrases such as ‘buon giorno’ for ‘hello’, ‘per favore’ for ‘thank you’ and ‘non capisco’ for ‘I do not understand’.
The best way to get money in Bari is by using the ATM machine that is located right at the port where you will dock. Simply ask any local to direct you to the Banco Populaire di Bari. Simply look for a cream-colored building that is located at a stone’s throw distance to the left of main port entrance.
Be careful while crossing a road in Bari, as the local drivers seem to overlook traffic signals in general. In addition to that, you should keep an eye on your hand baggage and other belongings while exploring a beautiful sight or simply walking down a busy road as there are many snatchers active in the city.
  

Original Article Written for www.mediterraneanfuncruises.com