Discover Art Nouveau in Bari!

I love walking to discover paths different from typical tourist routes. When I'm in a new place, it's the best way to grasp its true essence. Among my experiences, I did urban trekking in Bari's Libertà district. It's the city's most multicultural area, located in the northwest. People often find it less interesting than the seafront or Bari Vecchia. But strolling calmly through its streets, I found a neighborhood full of fascinating buildings, especially those from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The district developed as a natural expansion of Murattian Bari. As the city grew, many bourgeois families and professionals built their homes there. I've talked about Murattian works in Puglia before, when discussing Monopoli.

In Bari's Libertà district, there are buildings with grand entrances, decorations, intricate balustrades, and details reflecting the Liberty and eclectic styles of that era.

Two buildings particularly impressed me:

Palazzo Dioguardi, at the corner of via Crisanzio and via Sagarriga Visconti, with its huge portal and lion's head sculpture above the entrance.

A bit further on via Crisanzio, there's Palazzo Colonna De Robertis.

Entering Palazzo Colonna De Robertis, the hexagonal atrium amazed me. It's a true marvel, flooded with light from the large skylight. The loggias with biforas and arches, adorned with medallions of cherubs and children's faces surrounded by Art Nouveau floral motifs, feel playful and surreal. The elegant staircase, with barrel-vaulted landings and stucco angels watching from above, is pure poetry. On the lunettes, bas-reliefs of shells and manor houses evoke a forgotten grandeur. Scattered plants make the space feel alive, almost magical. On the first floor, Nicola Colonna's paintings add a precious artistic touch. It's an enchanting interior.

I loved discovering this part of Bari that's not in usual guides. It's an area with many stories, if you look closely.

Let me clarify: in Bari, the Liberty style is significant. Every year, they organize the Art Nouveau Week, with guided tours and events to better showcase these buildings and the period's architecture.

The same style is found in Turin and near Milan too.

In Bari's Libertà neighborhood, an interesting project is underway. It's called "We are in Libertà" and is run by #freewalkingtour and the free Italian school Penny Wirton. The idea is to train migrants to become tour guides of the neighborhood. They've recently reopened selections for participants, and curious about the initiative, I decided to join.

For me, it was great to see how a place with strong architectural history can also offer real opportunities for its residents. It's nothing extraordinary or contrived, just a simple, authentic way to share the neighborhood through the voices of those who truly live there.

If you find yourself in Bari and have some time, it's worth a visit.