If Lecce is the south’s Florence, Bari is its Bologna, a historic but forward-looking town with a high percentage of young people and migrants lending it vigour. Most travellers skip Bari on their way to Puglia’s big-hitter, Lecce (the towns have a long-standing rivalry, especially over soccer), but Bari doesn’t lack history or culture.
The old town contains the bones of Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) in its Basilica di San Nicola, and an excellent archaeological museum is concealed in Bari’s historic bastions.
For travelling foodies, there’s superb seafood and a bustling street food scene. The second-largest town in southern Italy, Bari is a busy port with connections to Greece, Albania, and Croatia, and it sports an international airport with connections to much of Europe.