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| Province of Bari | |
|---|---|
| Name | Province of Bari |
| Native name | Provincia di Bari |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Italy |
| Subdivision type1 | Region |
| Subdivision name1 | Apulia |
| Seat type | Capital |
| Seat | Bari |
| Area total km2 | 5,138 |
| Population total | 1,263,000 |
| Population as of | 2013 |
| Parts type | Comuni |
| Parts | 41 |
Province of Bari. The Province of Bari was an administrative province in the region of Apulia on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy, with its capital at Bari. The territory included coastal plains, inland hills, and urban centers such as Barletta, Molfetta, and Trani, forming a historical crossroads between Mediterranean Sea maritime routes and continental trade corridors like the Via Appia. Its cultural landscape reflects influences from Greek colonization, the Roman Republic, the Byzantine Empire, the Norman conquest of southern Italy, and the Kingdom of Naples.
The province occupied part of the Salento peninsula and bordered the Metropolitan City of Bari successor and neighboring provinces such as Provincia di Foggia, Provincia di Taranto, and Provincia di Brindisi. Major geographic features included the coastal stretch along the Adriatic Sea, the Murgia plateau, the Tavoliere delle Puglie plain, and river valleys like the Ofanto and local streams flowing into the Gulf of Bari. Towns such as Alberobello and Polignano a Mare sat on karst formations and coastal cliffs, while agricultural zones produced crops in the plains near Bari Vecchia and the Metaponto hinterland. Protected areas linked to Parco Nazionale dell'Alta Murgia and natural reserves showcased endemic flora and fauna reminiscent of the Mediterranean Basin ecosystem.
The area preserves layers from prehistoric sites linked to the Neolithic and later settlements by Magna Graecia colonists in places like Canosa di Puglia and Egnazia. Under the Roman Empire the region formed part of Regio II Apulia et Calabria and hosted villas along the Via Traiana and the Appian Way. After the fall of Rome, control shifted among the Byzantine Empire, Lombards, and Saracens before the arrival of the Normans led by figures tied to the County of Apulia. The city of Bari served as the seat of a Catepanate of Italy under Byzantine rule and later resisted sieges during the First Crusade era; it also figures in chronicles of the Italo-Norman period and in the rivalry between the Hohenstaufen dynasty and the Angevin kings of Naples. During the Renaissance and the Baroque period, noble families like the Bari Aldrovandi and ecclesiastical institutions left monuments such as Bari Cathedral, while the area experienced agrarian changes under the House of Bourbon and reforms in the era of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In the 19th century the province participated in events related to the Italian unification led by figures like Giuseppe Garibaldi and administrators of the Kingdom of Italy. The 20th century saw industrialization, wartime impacts during World War II, and postwar development linked to institutions such as the European Economic Community and national policies.
Administratively the province comprised multiple comune municipalities including Bari, Altamura, Conversano, Monopoli, Giovinazzo, Putignano, and Noicattaro. Its provincial institutions coordinated with regional authorities in Apulia and national ministries in Rome. Judicial and prefectural roles connected to the Prefecture in Bari and tribunals influenced public administration; local councils included elected mayors and municipal councils comparable to those across Italy. Reforms in the early 21st century altered provincial functions and led to the establishment of the Metropolitan City of Bari entity succeeding the province, aligning with initiatives promoted by the Ministry of the Interior (Italy) and legislative acts debated in the Italian Parliament.
Economic activity historically centered on agriculture—olive oil from groves around Corato, durum wheat for pasta producers linked to brands based near Bari, vineyard cultivation producing Primitivo and other varietals, and fruit orchards. The port of Bari and harbors at Barletta and Trani supported commercial shipping on routes to Greece, Albania, and the broader Mediterranean Sea, while sectors such as shipbuilding, fisheries, and small-scale manufacturing contributed to local industry. Contemporary economic initiatives involved tourism to sites like Alberobello with its trulli houses, gastronomic promotion of Pugliese cuisine, and technology and services clusters connected to universities such as the University of Bari Aldo Moro. EU-funded programs from the European Union and investments from agencies like the European Investment Bank supported infrastructure and rural development schemes.
Population centers included the metropolitan area of Bari and secondary towns such as Altamura and Monopoli, with demographic trends shaped by internal migration during industrialization and emigration to destinations like Argentina and United States in earlier centuries. Religious life centered on dioceses such as the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto and sanctuaries like San Nicola Basilica drew pilgrims, while cultural minorities and community groups maintained traditions linked to Arbereshe and other Italo-Albanian presences in southern Italy. Statistical patterns reflected aging populations typical of southern Italian provinces, urbanization around transport hubs, and recent shifts due to tourism and service-sector employment.
Cultural heritage encompassed UNESCO-recognized sites like the trulli of Alberobello and Romanesque architecture at Bari Cathedral, churches such as Santa Maria del Casale in Brindisi influences, and castles including Castello Svevo in Trani and Castel del Monte proximate influences from Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. Museums such as the Museo Archeologico collections in Altamura and festivals like the Feast of Saint Nicholas and local sagre celebrating olive oil and wine highlighted regional identity. Artistic traditions included folk music like the pizzica and culinary specialties such as orecchiette pasta, while contemporary cultural life engaged institutions such as the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari and regional publishing linked to presses in Bari and Altamura.
Transport networks centered on the port of Bari, the Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport serving domestic and international routes, rail connections via the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane mainlines linking to Rome and Naples, and highways such as the A14 motorway running along the Adriatic corridor. Local public transit included regional bus services and commuter rail feeding suburbs and towns like Molfetta and Giovinazzo. Infrastructure projects received funding through EU cohesion policy instruments and national programs administered by agencies like ANAS for road maintenance and upgrades, while logistics hubs supported maritime freight and passenger ferry services to destinations including Corfu and Patras.