The history of Bari is such that it literally stretches back over the sands of time to the days when the Peucetii first lived here. To the average traveller the name means nothing, considering they were an ancient people who lived in the area long before the Romans first showed up in the third century B.C. and developed the port into a thriving hub of trade to the east. Many scholars consider the port of Bari to have been the single most important Roman port in the B.C. times and since then Bari has been the centre of attention until 1943, when the city had the unwelcome distinction of being the only European casualty to chemical warfare during World War II. It has been a slow rise back to the top since those days, but the amount of historical architecture and ancient ruins interspersed between modern buildings and the Adriatic coastline makes for the perfect Italian holiday destination.
Whether a visitor is looking to relax in the shade of a café while sipping coffee and taking in the views across the port, or exploring the streets and seeing such wonders as the Basilica of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral of Bari, there is more than enough to keep a person busy for as long as they choose to stay. Extended trips are well-suited to renting apartments for the holidays, although the popularity of Bari is increasing in the 21st century and accommodation should be booked at least six months in advance.