The most precious treasures of the historic center of Bari are found in the numerous churches of Bari Vecchia. These are not just places of worship – often desecrated – but small temples through which it is possible to learn about science, traditions, and the various dominations that have succeeded each other over time.
By tracing the complete map of these 25 wonderful treasures, one can immerse themselves in a truly evocative and highly interesting journey, even from an architectural point of view.
We will start with the most famous and renowned churches of Bari, before discovering the real hidden treasures that the old city conceals. Not only the famous Cathedral of Bari San Sabino, the Basilica of San Nicola, Sant’Anna, and Santa Scolastica, but much, much more.

1. Cathedral of San Sabino, also known as the Cathedral or Bari Cathedral, is a refined example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. The building stands on the ruins of the ancient Byzantine cathedral, destroyed by the Norman William the Bad, who had ordered the destruction of the entire city. In the subterranean part of the Cathedral, the hypogeum area leads to a journey back in time, discovering the remains of a large Roman civic building and a Byzantine church. Furthermore, every year, during the summer solstice, the miracle of light takes place inside the Cathedral. Sunlight rays pass through the rose window of the facade, projecting a beam of light on the marble mosaic in the central nave.
   Address: Piazza dell’Odegitria, 70122 Bari BA
   Foundation date: 1292
   Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

2. Second on the list, but certainly not for importance among the churches of Bari, a pilgrimage destination for faithful from all over the world, the Basilica of San Nicola is renowned for housing the relics of San Nicola, which arrived in the city on May 9, 1087, from Mira, present-day Turkey. The building rises on the pre-existing Court of the Catepan (the Greek-Byzantine governor of Southern Italy at the time) and retains the appearance of a fortress in Romanesque style.
   Address: Largo Abate Elia, 13, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction year: 1089
   Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

3. Originally dedicated to Saint Pelagia, today the Church of Sant'Anna in Bari is renowned for being the seat of the homeless confraternities and the place where newborns are blessed. In the Scriptures, Saint Anna is invoked as the protector of pregnant women, who turn to her for a safe childbirth, a healthy child, and sufficient milk to nourish it.
   Address: Str. Palazzo di Città, 63, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction period: 11th century
   Architectural style: Renaissance

4. Hidden among the alleys of Bari’s old town, every Sunday the Church of San Gaetano in Bari Vecchia hosts the celebration of the Ethiopian Orthodox Rite, lasting for as long as 4 hours. A mixture of colors and chants animates the church. Bari’s tradition blends with Orthodox folklore.
   Address: Str. S. Gaetano, 19, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction period: 11th century

5. The ancient monumental complex of Santa Scolastica dates back to the Aragonese era and consists of two buildings: the Church and the monastery, within which lies the Archaeological Museum that houses evidence of over 4000 years of history. The origins of the Church are attributed to the “Black Benedictines”, who, to escape Norman domination, abandoned the convent of the Trinity and found fertile ground in Bari for the foundation of a new monastery dedicated to Santa Scolastica.
   Address: Str. Annunziata, 2, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction period: 11th century

6. The Church of San Marco dei Veneziani is undoubtedly one of the oldest churches in Bari Vecchia, as well as one of the least famous and well-known. It was founded by Bari citizens with the help of Venetian merchants settled in Bari to celebrate the city's liberation from the Saracen threat. Tangible evidence of the relationship between Bari and Venice are the numerous Venetian colonies in Puglia.
   Address: Str. S. Marco, 7, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction year: 1002
   Architectural style: Apulian Romanesque

7. Dating back to the 12th century, the Church of Santa Chiara in Bari and the convent were founded by the Teutonic Knights. In 1492, Pope Innocent VIII, at the request of Ludovico il Moro, entrusted the church to the Clarisses, and it has been called Santa Chiara ever since. After several renovations, the former convent is now used as a soup kitchen.
   Address: Str. Santa Chiara, 70122 Bari BA
   Construction period: 12th century
   Architectural style: Renaissance – Baroque

   8. Chiesa della Vallisa

   Also known by the name "Ravvedise" (from the popular dialect), the Church of the Vallisa in Bari Vecchia was commissioned by the Ravellesi, wealthy merchants from the Amalfi Coast, who settled in the city of Bari. From being called the "Church of the Ravellesi," it later became known as the "Church of the Lavellisti," and finally, it took its current name, "La Vallisa."
   Address: Strada Vallisa, 11, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 11th century
   Architectural style: Romanesque

   9. Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo
   The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Bari is one of the oldest monasteries in Puglia, with its construction dating back to the 17th century, built by the Celestines. Archaeological excavations beneath the church have identified the remains of the legendary Temple of Saint Benedict. According to legend, the crypt hosted the bones of Saint Nicholas in 1087.
   Address: Via San Benedetto, 16, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 10th century

   10. Chiesa di Santa Teresa dei Maschi
   The Church of Santa Teresa dei Maschi in Bari dates back to the Baroque period and was erected by the Discalced Carmelites in honor of Saint Teresa of Ávila. The name "dei Maschi" (of the men) comes from the need to distinguish it from the pre-existing Church of Santa Teresa delle Donne (of the women). Over the years, it lost its function as a church and was transformed into a cultural space, hosting concerts, art exhibitions, and various events.
   Address: Str. Santa Teresa dei Maschi, 70122 Bari BA
   Year of construction: 1671
   Architectural style: Baroque

   11. Chiesa del SS. Nome del Gesù
   The Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus is located in the heart of Bari’s Old Town and was commissioned by the Jesuits during the Roman Reformation. The arrival of the new religious Order in the city led to changes in the religious practices of the people of Bari, who began to preach in a more rigid and dogmatic manner.
   Address: Vico Gesuiti, 17, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 16th century

   12. Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine

   The Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Bari, with its simple and linear façade, features the richness of the lavish marble altars and the bright Baroque paintings from the late 18th century inside.
   Address: Str. del Carmine, 46, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 17th century

   13. San Gregorio degli Armeni
   San Gregorio degli Armeni is the oldest consecrated church in Bari, a testament to Byzantine worship in the city. It is the only sacred building not demolished to make space for the construction of the Basilica of San Nicola. The funeral inscriptions of the most well-known Bari surnames attest to the devotion of the city's people toward the church. Today, it is the place of worship for the Orthodox Romanians who come to pay homage to the patron saint of Armenia.
   Address: Piazzetta 62 Marinai, 32, 70122 Bari BA

   14. Ruderi della Chiesa di Santa Maria del Buonconsiglio a Bari Vecchia
   Chiesa di Santa Maria del Buonconsiglio
   The Church of Santa Maria del Buonconsiglio in Bari Vecchia was originally known as "Santa Maria del Popolo." After a council meeting between the Baresi and Byzantines that ended in murder, the building took the name "Maliconsili" (Malconsiglio), later transformed over time into "Buonconsiglio." It is now an open-air museum nestled in the alleys of the Old Town.
   Address: Strada Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 9th-10th century

   15. Chiesa di San Bartolomeo
   The Church of San Bartolomeo has been the victim of many adversities over time. The religious building, founded in 1075, was destroyed by William the Malo and later rebuilt. Today, it is used as a kitchen for the nuns. A small bell and a cross at the summit attest to the site's ancient religious significance.
   Year of construction: 1075

   16. Chiesa di San Giuseppe
   The importance and uniqueness of the Church of San Giuseppe in Bari lie in the celebration of the Tridentine rite, a form of Eucharistic Mass from the Roman rite promulgated by Pope Pius V. The prayers and ritual formulas are recited in Latin, with the priest facing away from the congregation. The long pauses and moments of silence aim to bring the faithful closer to God.

   17. Chiesa di San Martino
   Dating back to the 9th century, the Church of San Martino, now in a state of abandonment and decay, has been incorporated into the Bianchi Dottula Palace, which is closed to the public.
   Address: Via Bianchi Dottula 1, 70122 Bari BA
   Period of construction: 9th century

   18. Chiesa di San Francesco della Scarpa
   Legend has it that Saint Francis of Assisi, while passing through Bari on his way to the Holy Land, laid the first stone of the monastery that would later become the Church of San Francesco della Scarpa. Over the centuries, it has served as a refuge for the needy and earthquake victims, as well as a military base for both the French and the Bourbons. The current name "della Scarpa" is attributed to the Friars Minor Observants, known as "Zoccolanti," who guarded the building.
   Address: Str. Santa Chiara, 70122 Bari BA

   19. Chiesa di San Luca
   The Church of San Luca, founded by the Bari family of Comite, hosts a major celebration every year on September 8th, dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie. This highly venerated saint in Bari Vecchia sees a large number of faithful who seek her blessing after kissing her vestment.
   Address: Str. S. Luca, 21, 70122 Bari BA

   20. Chiesa di San Giovanni Crisostomo

   The Church of San Giovanni Crisostomo in Bari is dedicated to the Christian faithful of the Eastern Byzantine rite, coming from mainland Greece and the Dodecanese. This church bridges the diversity between the Catholic and Orthodox religions, a reflection of Bari's strategic position as a point of arrival for people from the East.
   Address: Str. Santa Chiara, 22, 70122 Bari BA

   21. Chiesa di San Giacomo
   A triumph of Baroque and Rococo architecture characterizes the Church of San Giacomo in Bari. For a long time, it was the seat of the Basilian nuns and later the Benedictine order. The building, ancient and precious, was erected between the 11th and 12th centuries, and inside, one can see the first signs of deterioration.
   Address: Piazza dell’Odegitria, 70122 Bari BA

   22. Chiesa dei Santi Medici
   The Church of the Holy Physicians in Bari is embedded and hidden in a three-story Baroque palace, dating back to 1032. The only surviving part of the building after its destruction by William the Malo was entrusted to the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity, from which the name derives, and to the Holy Physicians.
   Address: Piazza Federico II di Svevia, 30, 70122 Bari BA

   23. Chiesa di San Sebastiano
   Incorporated into the urban fabric of the historic center, the foundation of the Church of San Sebastiano in Bari dates back to the noble Gizzinosi-Ramirez family, who made the building their private chapel. It was reopened a few years ago, thanks to the efforts of the citizens, who organized a door-to-door fundraising campaign to restore it.
   Address: Via San Sebastiano 24, 70131 Bari BA

   24. Chiesa di San Domenico
   The Church of San Domenico in Bari was built by the Dominicans on a pre-existing medieval site. The church has been entrusted to the Archconfraternity of the Rosary, which has managed the structure since 1900. The former convent has been replaced by the Prefecture Palace, although the church retains its 18th-century façade.
   Address: Vico S. Domenico, 70122 Bari BA

   25. Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli
   The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Bari owes its name "of the Angels" to the presence of celestial beings around the Virgin's face and to the homonymous church in Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy. A symbol of the close link between the two churches is the bronze bell, still preserved in Bari, which Saint Francis used to call the faithful to prayer.
   Address: Via Boemondo, 6, 70122 Bari BA

   This concludes our tour of the 25 churches of Bari Vecchia, from the hidden little jewels to the more renowned great cathedrals.