An Italian chef has named an “authentic” city that people should visit - and it’s not Milan, Venice or Florence. It comes as an estimated five million people travel from the UK to Italy on holiday each year.
While many tourists opt for seaside destinations such as Puglia or Rimini, the country is also well known for its beautiful city breaks. And according to chef Vincenzo Prosperi, known as Vincenzo Plates online, there is one city that can offer a glimpse of the real Italy.
Vincenzo says Bari on the Adriatic Sea is an “old town where the nonnas make pasta on the sea”. In a YouTube video, he said: “A really wonderful city.
“It has really improved in the last 10 years. It is one of the best places to see in the south of Italy. This is authentic, this is great.”
Home to just over 315,000 people, Bari is considered one of the most important cities in southern Italy. It is both a stunning Mediterranean port and a university city.
Bari is split up into distinct regions. Bari old town, known as Bari Vecchia, is a labyrinth of historic streets that houses the historic Basilica of Saint Nicholas, which dates back to the 11th century.
The charming Piazza del Ferrarese overlooks the Augusto Imperatore waterfront while its palm tree-lined streets offer the perfect blend between the old town and the modern seafront. It takes its name from a Ferrara merchant who lived in the area in the 1600s and kept his warehouses on the square.
Traces of Roman road dating back to the 2nd century remain roped-off on the piazza. Today visitors can enjoy a relaxing break while watching the colourful boats bob up and down in the dock.
Meanwhile the Murak Quarter, built by Joachim Murat, is the beating heart of modern Bari. It is known for its grid-like street layout, modern shopping district, and bustling cafe culture.
Its vibrant atmosphere is a contrast to the historic old town. Travel expert Mark Wolters says visitors to Bari should be sure to visit Strada Arco Bass where locals make orecchiette pasta in the street.
In a YouTube video, he said: “When you come here, you’re going to see there’s a street where all these grandmas, all these ladies, are making orecchiette, they’re making a special kind of pasta from here.”
He added: “We bought two bags for like five euros and it was so worth it. We got to see the lady and she was making them and they had them out there, it was a really cool thing.”
Mark also recommends that visitors to Bari sample the focaccia barese - a bread made with a mashed potato and semolina flour. He said: "Focaccia is like a really fluffy, almost like a pizza-bread dough bread, and in it they put tomatoes and olives and it is fantastic, it's a really special one from here."
The expert however suggests that anyone wanting to do a road trip around the wider Puglia region should get their car from the airport in Bari before travelling around the area. This, he explains, is because you "don't want to drive" in the city, in particular the old town.
Flights from the UK to Bari start at around £70 on Skyscanner. In the summer months the temperatures can reach upto 30C with highs of around 23C in May.
