Introducing Bari

Bari has long been the heel of Italy’s boot, in a geographical and metaphorical sense. Over the last decade, the sun-soaked capital of Puglia has cast off its reputation as Italy’s rough son and reinvented itself with aplomb. Tourists have long flocked to Bari’s sandy beaches, but now the region’s historic sights are finally getting a look in.

The city’s ancient core (Cittàvecchia), a confounding maze of streets where most of the city’s ancient sights are concentrated, has benefited from a much needed revamp. Day and night, the area buzzes with outdoor cafés, vibrant bars, and eclectic restaurants serving hearty regional specialties and jugs of local wines. Tourist activity centers upon the splendid Basilica of Saint Nicola, built between 1087 and 1197. Resembling a fortress rather than a place of worship, the basilica set the bar for Puglia’s Romanesque style. The Piazza de Ferrarese is a lively square which embodies the city’s underlying tension between old and new. A surreal chunk of Roman road forms the square’s centerpiece while, beneath the arches that mark the entrance to the old city, the Sala Murat is a contemporary art museum with a slim, but noteworthy, collection. Tucked behind cafés and restaurants, locals line up for the catch of the day at the cacophonous indoor fish market. Architectural harmony prevails in the city’s modern district—centered upon Piazza della Libertà—which was laid out in the 19th century according to famed urban planner, Joachim Murat, none other than Napoleon’s brother in law.

Airports within a 50-mile radius of the Bari:

  • Palese Macchie Airport (BRI, located within the city limits)
  • Gioia Del Colle Airport (LIBV)
  • Grottaglie Airport (TAR)

Popular aircraft charters* in the Bari region include:

  • Citation Excel (super light)
  • Learjet 45 XR (super light)
  • Citation CJ3 (light)
  • Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
  • Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
  • Citation III (midsize)
  • Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
  • Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.