Originally constructed from 1912 to 1914, this historic theatre was restored and reopened in 2018…read more It is now used for travelling art exhibits. Located in the Old Port area of Bari. The buildings architecture is note worthy as well as its location right on the water. It opens every day at 10:30 and closes at 8:30 PM. I arrived in Barry a little too early in the morning so I grabbed a cappuccino across the street and admired the beautiful building. I was planning on going back later in the afternoon to see the art . I never made it so it was my loss

WORTH THE TRIP TO MATERA Matera is magnificent. There's so…read moremuch here to fascinate. We attended this museum as sort of an afterthought But it is a ROCK STAR! As rich with treasures as the Met in NYC or the Oriental Museum in Chicago, the world class relics here are LOCAL! All found within walking distance. It's exciting, truly. Come here, for sure. It's wonderful!

A hidden gem and excellent value in central Matera, it looks more like a bank than museum from the…read moreoutside and entry is just €2 (teachers get a discount with ID). The museum is very well laid out so you can follow a single path rather than bounce back and fourth across and between rooms as is the case at many larger museums (the Smithsonian in DC and the Met in NYC come to mind). For the minimal fee, you will find an abundance of archeological relics and remains dating back to the 6th Century B.C. as well as recreations of village life and cave paintings from that time in this 105 year old museum. A great way to spend an hour or two on a blustery winter day as we did during the worst snowstorm in Matera over the past 60 years, you can leisurely stroll through at your own pace without hectic crowds hovering in front of you. The day we were there, we saw only one or two other couples in the museum the entire time. There is a room of to your right as you descend the stairs toward the exit with a snack and coffee machine which was quite reasonable (caffe latte, espresso, cappuccino, or hot chocolate were just €.40 each). The staff are very friendly and helpful, but their English is limited and all exhibits as well as their App (with slideshows and verbal descriptions accessed via the web with a QR code reader) are only in Italian. Lack of English descriptions and translations were the only thing keeping me from giving them a perfect score. CombatCritic Gives Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

This is actually two things to do here. The museo (museum)…read moreand Archeologico Nazionale E. Parco. The ticket for either or both is in the ticket room with books and games to buy and the only Toilet. The Roman Ruins are a ten minute walk to the other entrance booth to check your ticket. we bought a 6 month ticket for one euro difference additional each so we might return once more over the next 3 days. The Roman and older ruins are open to visit from behind a chain. It took us about 45 minutes or more to do the loop. Then we did the Museum, which was superior, all in Italian descriptions except the orientation video. You can do a QR code each time but i hate those for the english translations. There is a big aquarium tank with a big jar to imitate the sea and anchors and many Amphore clay jars or vases. Lots of found pottery, statues and shards. All recovered from the Roman digs and the sea we had just come back from. The digs were unearthed/ opened in 1910 or so and again in 1960 or so but then left alone. Maybe money. After everything , we went to where the Romans or Greeks went to the Sea edge and dug rectangular and round fish traps in the coral. Tide comes in, fish as well , tide goes out fish are stuck behind. There are dozens, here you can just walk around. Still here in the sea working after 2000 years or more. incredible history.

Amazing visit. Fascinating ruins and great museum. Well worth the detour if you are a history lover.read more

It really wonderful- and free - cathedral to visit, where Saint Nicholas, yes the real one, lies…read moreburied. This is the original Saint Nick, the inspiration for Santa Claus. Cathedral itself is gorgeous inside, and the two lies in the basement. There are several icons and statues to Saint Nicholas both inside and outside the church. Walk around this area is gorgeous as well, I recommend it in the inner city.

On the eve of the feast day of Saint Nicholas 2025, I started this review. The basilica is a truly…read morewonderful shrine and holy site. Words cannot express what should be experienced in person. In the Middle Ages, commerce drove prosperity, and in the Christian era, the greater the prominence of your local shrine the more the town prospered. Add to this, the rise of Islam, and the systematic destruction of parts of what is now Turkey by militants, and you can see why the relics of St Nicolas were brought to Bari in 1087. The crypt where the Saint is buried is a holy place where even the air itself feels heavenly. Come prepared and respectful. Wear decent clothing. Pray, and be transformed. St Nicholas once ransomed three impoverished young girls from being sold into sex slavery by providing gold coins for their dowry (this is where the gifts and the stockings hung by chimneys came from)... a visit here has the potential to ransom you from this mad world into the person you were meant to be.