Bari On a Rainy Day: 14 Things To Do
Bari is one of the nicest cities in Southern Italy to visit. There are so many things to see and do in this part of the country, and you will be treated to Italian cuisine and amazing museums as well as lovely scenery and access to the Adriatic Sea during your stay. If you have already planned your trip and then you've noticed some rain in the forecast, don't panic! There are so many things to keep you occupied in this port and university city that can be enjoyed when the weather is not perfect. You will find that this capital city offers so many cool things to do that a day or two of rain will not impact your trip significantly.
The first thing that you need to do, no matter what the weather is like, is handle your luggage to make sure that it does not get in your way. Make sure to place your luggage into secure storage in Bari before you do anything else. Once your bags are secure and stored, you will feel so much better and you will have your hands free to enjoy your trip. You will also appreciate having your bags in storage if the weather is not cooperating since nothing is worse than wet clothes!
Once your bags have been stored, you will be ready to make plans to see all the amazing parts of this lovely city.
14 Things to do in Bari on a Rainy Day
When you get off the plane at Bari airport, you will probably be eager to get out and start seeing the sights and landmarks of this city. Bari is one of the most beautiful and amazing places to see in the region. If the weather is already a bit less than ideal, you can enjoy your rainy day plans right off! Bari Old Town and various other sites around the city will be open and ready for you to get inside out of the rain.
Basilica di San Nicola
This is a really lovely church in Bari and the unique architectural style, as well as the beautiful interior, are worth visiting. You will appreciate that you will be out of the rain and you can learn a lot about Southern Italy inside the Basilica di San Nicola which is also something of a museum. This is part of the offerings of Old Town and you will feel immersed in the culture as well as history when you visit this site. The Basilica di San Nicola is one of the best parts of Bari Old Town, and you should be sure to make a stop here to dry off and check out what this historical building has to offer.
Cattedrale di San Sabino
If you love mosaics and want to tour a crypt, this is the right historical building to head to! This is one of the most memorable buildings in Bari, Italy, and you will love everything about the tour of the interior of this intriguing cathedral as well as the fascinating crypt and mosaic tour. This was originally a Byzantine church, and the current building was built on top of the original church. The collision of different cultures in this city is very clear here, and you will appreciate this part of Bari Old Town for its unique presence and well-preserved nature.
Castello Normanno Svevo
If you have ever wanted to step inside a real castle, this is the site to visit! This is one of the Southern Italy forts that also served as churches, and you will be able to wander all around this castle and its grounds. The original furnishings have been lost to time, but the rest of the interior has been restored so that you can see what castle life would have been like once upon a time. This kind of building reminds you that you are in a capital city and that Bari, Italy, once had to defend itself from invaders of various kinds.
La Cantina Frrud - Museo del Vino
Do you love wine? Then this is the museum for you. It's one of the most popular museums in Bari, which makes sense given the country's affinity for wine. Italy has made delicious wines for generations, and this lovely museum will walk you through the process undertaken to make each bottle of delicious and flavorful wine in this country. This is a port city, and one of the main things that used to be exported from it was wine. The tours here also include a tasting, which is a nice added benefit to chase away any rainy day blues.
Pinacoteca Corrado Giaquinto
This is a small art collection that focuses on the classics and also displays work by some very important local artists. You will not need very long to see the whole collection here, so you can easily add this adventure to other plans in the old city. Make sure to avoid peak times as there can sometimes be a bit of crowding around key pieces inside the museum.
Grotta Del Trullo
If you have always wanted to go spelunking, this is the rainy day activity for you. You will access this walkable cave through some little Apulian houses and wander through the various large compartments enjoying the acoustics of the surroundings and the stalagmites and stalactites inside the space. These are guided tours, and you must stay with your tour guide during the trek. While this s not the same kind of rainy day activity as ancient ruins or a museum, there is something really neat about being able to wander beneath Bari province and see mainland Southern Italy from the underside.
Mudima - Museo Diocesano Matronei Altamuria
This lovely small collection of art and historical interest pieces is worth visiting inside the cathedral at Altamura. You will be amazed by the beautiful architecture of the site, and this ancient building is nestled right in the heart of Bari province. The contrast between a metropolitan city and these historic Old Town buildings cannot be overstated enough. You will feel like you have been transported to the middle ages here, and the time capsule feel is extraordinary.
Archivio di Stato
If you love a library and want to know more about the military history of Bari, Italy, you will want to spend part of your rainy day here. You can find out a lot about the history of Southern Italy here as well as information about Norman King Roger II. There are also a few displays about the Roman Empire and Bari Old Town. This is a very informative and interesting small museum dedicated to the history of Bari and mainland Southern Italy.
Basilica Cattedrale Maria Santissima della Madia
This slightly weathered Basilica Cattedrale Maria Santissima della Madia building is absolutely stunning inside. You can enjoy all kinds of interesting information shared in the exhibits inside this spot in the Old Town, intricate mosaics, and much more. This is a vast and spacious building that is one of the key historic buildings in the city. You cannot leave this capital city without seeing this landmark. This is like the Basilica di San Nicola, only so much bigger and more impressive. There are essentially two churches here, the ancient one that has been saved from becoming ancient ruins and the more modern 17th-century church. Both parts of the building offer unique and beautiful things to see, and if you enjoyed the Basilica di San Nicola, you will love this location.
Teatro Petruzzelli
If you love the theater, this is a place that you have to make sure to see when you are in this metropolitan city. This is the fourth-largest theater in Italy and one of the old city's most notable places to visit. The seats might not very comfortable anymore, but the location is well-preserved overall. You can also get a box if you want to visit this landmark in more comfort. The ticket prices are very cheap, and you can enjoy a lovely show while you soak in the old city glamor of this spot, all while staying nice and dry. Imagining all the various shows and events that this theater has seen can be really humbling as you enjoy your visit.
Do Some Shopping
Heading to one of the city's best shopping streets will help you be inside away from the rain while also having a lot of fun. This metropolitan city offers you access to bookstores, coffee shops, and little niche stores run by locals when you are in the old city. You can also find malls and more mainstream shopping experiences outside of the Old Town area near the center of town. While the stores themselves are not usually that historical, most of the areas that you can shop in the Old Town have been stores since well before Norman King Roger II was in power. This is one of the most exciting things to experience when visiting an old port city. Besides, you might find some unique souvenirs or a new outfit to sweeten the deal.
Go Wine Tasting
Italy is one of the most important places in the world if you love wine, and you can enjoy all kinds of wine tasting options in this metropolitan city. Make sure that you consider what kind of wine you want to try, as most of the tasting rooms offer very specific and focused varieties for your enjoyment. Many of these tasting rooms are located in and around Old Town Bari, so you should have no trouble finding the right wine tasting locations to suit you. If you have younger people with you, they will still have fun seeing the old buildings and soaking up the atmosphere of Old Town Bari while you enjoy your tastings.
Escape Rooms
Numerous fun escape rooms have cropped up throughout the city, and the most enjoyable ones are clustered in the area of Old Town. These older buildings lend themselves to a sense of mystery and magic, and you and your family or friends will have so much fun trying to solve the puzzles and the story you are told when you pay for this experience. You can easily spend part of your afternoon in Old Town at one of these locations, rounding out a day spent in more serious ways. Younger people in your party will adore this adventure, and you will find that everyone will enjoy the challenge of trying to escape.
Sit Down for a Meal
When in doubt, eat! If you have been caught in some less-than-perfect weather during your trip to Bari, just head to an Old Town cafe or restaurant and park for a while to enjoy the warmth and have some wine. Most Italian cuisine options are meant to be enjoyed over a few hours so no one will hurry you out of your seats. If you have been in Old Town looking at other things and seeing museums, you will be near all kinds of delightful dining options. Even the areas outside the central Bari area can be trusted to offer you lovely dining locations of all kinds.
If your timing works out, plan to spend a portion of the day sampling one of Bari's best brunch spots. It's an easy way to kill a few rainy hours.
Conclusion
If you are disappointed that the weather is not on your side when you arrive in Bari, don't fret! There are so many things to do when the weather is not the best that you will not regret your rainy day by the Adriatic Sea. From museums to wine tasting to seeing sights, landmarks, and countless other things, you will have a great time when you visit this city no matter the weather.
Always make sure that the first thing you do is store your luggage securely when you arrive in Bari. Having peace of mind about the safety of your items can make your trip so much easier.