A City of Ancient Walls and Living Souls

A few days ago, I took a short train ride—barely 35 minutes—from Monopoli to Bari, the capital of Puglia.

- Prof. ABHIK ROY

Though close in distance, Bari feels like another world entirely—larger, livelier, and layered with centuries of history.

Bari's story stretches back to the 4th millennium BC, when Greek settlers made their home here. In the 3rd century BC, the Romans arrived and transformed it into a thriving port. Over the centuries, the city changed hands many times—Byzantines, Lombards, Saracens, Normans, and even the Holy Roman Empire—each leaving its mark upon Bari's soul. For a brief period, it even stood as an independent Muslim emirate before the Normans reconquered it in 1071.

Today, Bari is a fascinating blend of the ancient and the modern a bustling port city that hums with life. The streets echo with many tongues—Italian, Arabic, English, and languages from Africa and Asia-a reflection of the city's long embrace of travelers and traders from distant shores.