Tour of Bari fortresses

Discover the fortresses of the city of Bari with an expert guide. From the construction of the megalithic walls near the Bastion of Santa Scolastica, to the demolition of the city’s defences by Murat who started the chessboard work of the new city. Bari, its defenses, its history.Start your journey with a visit to the Norman-Swabian Castle and the Gipsoteca which is housed inside it. Here you can admire up to 130 models that portray the masterpieces of Romanesque Puglia including capitals, shelves, statues and architectural details faithfully reproduced by the sculptors Pasquale Duretti and Mario Sabatelli. Afterwards, visit the street Arco Basso where the so-called ‘street artists’ of Bari’s cuisine sit, one after another, shaping orecchiette pasta with their quick hands. From here you will be taken to the cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola. Your guide will tell you about the fascinating history, as well as explain the wonderful architecture of both churches. After visiting their exteriors, go to the famous walls of the old town, for a walk with a panoramic view of the city.The last part of the tour is dedicated to the Fortress of Sant'Antonio, located in front of the old port. Sant'Antonio is one of the four bastions of the city and the highest point of the old town. From here,witness the breathtaking view of the medieval walls next to the waterfront. The tour will end in Piazza del Ferrarese, known in the past as the ‘Piazzetta d’armi’ (parade-ground), built where the Porta di Mare once stood.