The Metropolitan City of Bari ( it, Città Metropolitana di Bari) is a
metropolitan city
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big ci ...
in the
Apulia
it, Pugliese
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region of
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. Its capital is the city of
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ital ...
. It replaced the
Province of Bari
The Province of Bari ( it, provincia di Bari, nap, pruvincia 'e Bari, nap, label= Barese, provinge de Bare) was a province in the region of Apulia, Italy. Its capital was the city of Bari.
It has an area of , and a total population of 1,594,1 ...
and includes the city of
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ital ...
and some forty other municipalities (''comuni''). It was first created by the
reform of local authorities (Law 142/1990) and then established by the Law 56/2014. It has been operative since January 1, 2015.
The Metropolitan City of Bari is headed by the Metropolitan Mayor (''Sindaco metropolitano'') and by the Metropolitan Council (''Consiglio metropolitano''). Since 1 January 2015
Antonio Decaro
Antonio Decaro (born 17 July 1970) is an Italian politician, current Mayor of Bari.
Biography
Decaro graduated in engineering at the Polytechnic University of Bari. After a brief work experience as deputy head compartment of the Apulian Aqueduct ...
, as mayor of the capital city, has been the first mayor of the Metropolitan City.
It has an area of , and a total population of 1,261,152 (2014).
Geography
Overlooking the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to th ...
in south-eastern Italy, the Province of Bari is located in the central part of Apulia and is bordered on the west by the provinces of
Matera
Matera (, ; Materano: ) is a city in the region of Basilicata, in Southern Italy.
As the capital of the province of Matera, its original settlement lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a comp ...
and
Potenza
Potenza (, also , ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania).
Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one ...
, to the north by the province of
Barletta-Andria-Trani, and to the south by the provinces of
Taranto
Taranto (, also ; ; nap, label=Tarantino, Tarde; Latin: Tarentum; Old Italian: ''Tarento''; Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto, serving as an important comme ...
and
Brindisi
Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Histo ...
. The province of Bari was formerly a part of the region of
Terra di Bari, which once included the towns of
Fasano and
Cisternino
Cisternino is a '' comune'' in the province of Brindisi in Apulia, on the coast of south-eastern Italy, approximately north-west of the city of Brindisi. Its main economic activities are tourism, the growing of olives and grapes, and dairy farm ...
, now in the province of Brindisi.
The area is dominated by the
Murgia hills in the inner part, a
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, Dolomite (rock), dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathe ...
plateau which is the home of the
Alta Murgia National Park, one of the newest national parks in Italy, established in 2004.
Only the Bari hinterland and the coastal strip are flat. The north of the province, with Bari,
Altamura
Altamura (, ; nap, label= Barese, Ialtamùre) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is located on one of the hills of the Murge plateau in the Metropolitan City of Bari, southwest of Bari, close to the border with Basili ...
,
Bitonto
Bitonto (; nap, label= Bitontino, Vetònde) is a city and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari ( Apulia region), Italy. It lies to the west of Bari. It is nicknamed the "City of Olives", due to the numerous olive groves surrounding the ...
,
Corato
Corato ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in Italy. It is located in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, in southeastern Italy. Founded by the Normans, it became subject to Alfonso V, king of Aragon, at the end of the 15th century, and late ...
,
Gravina in Puglia
Gravina in Puglia (; nap, label= Barese, Gravéine ; la, Silvium; grc, Σιλούϊον, Siloúïon) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
The word ''gravina'' comes from the Latin ''grava'' or from ...
, and
Molfetta
Molfetta (; Molfettese: ) is a town located in the northern side of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
It has a well restored old city, and its own dialect.
History
The earliest local signs of permanent habitation are ...
, is heavily populated. The south, on the contrary, is characterized by the absence of these large centers; the only municipality to be around 50,000 inhabitants is
Monopoli
Monopoli (; Monopolitano: ) is a town and municipality in Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia. The town is roughly in area and lies on the Adriatic Sea about southeast of Bari. It has a population of 49,24 ...
. In the southern part of the province, on the border with that of Taranto, is the
Itria Valley
Itria Valley (in Italian: ''Valle d'Itria'') is an area located in Apulia region, in Southern Italy.
Itria Valley spreads over Province of Bari, Province of Brindisi and Province of Taranto, and coincide with the lower part of Murgia upland (Low ...
, between the towns of
Alberobello,
Locorotondo, Cisternino and
Martina Franca
Martina Franca, or just Martina ( Martinese: ), is a town and ''municipality'' in the province of Taranto, Apulia, Italy. It is the second most populated town of the province after Taranto, and has a population (2016) of 49,086. Since 1975, th ...
. The province is largely devoid of rivers and lakes, although underground rivers in the karst landscape has formed numerous caves, including those of
Castellana and
Putignano
Putignano ( Barese: ) is an Italian town of 26 644 inhabitants located in the Murgia of the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. It is known for its ancient Carnival, for textile manufacturing companies and for karst caves.
P ...
.
Cities and comunes
With the establishment of the
Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani
The Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani is a province of Italy in the Apulia region. The establishment of the province took effect in June 2009, and Andria was appointed as its seat of government on 21 May 2010.
It was created from 10 municipali ...
in 2004, in addition to the provincial capitals, the province of Bari lost another 4 municipalities, i.e.
Bisceglie
Bisceglie (; nap, label= Biscegliese, Vescégghie) is a city and municipality of 55,251 inhabitants in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, in the Apulia region (''Italian'': ''Puglia''), in southern Italy. The municipality has the fourth h ...
,
Canosa di Puglia
Canosa di Puglia, generally known simply as Canosa ( nap, label= Canosino, Canaus), is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, southern Italy. It is located between Bari and Foggia, on the northwestern edge of the ...
,
Minervino Murge
Minervino Murge ( nap, Menarvèine, label= Central Apulian ) is a town and ''comune'', former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see in the administrative province of Barletta-Andria-Trani in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, lyin ...
and
Spinazzola
Spinazzola is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, southern Italy.
People
*Pope Innocent XII was born here in the castle of the Pignatelli family, now destroyed.
* Michele Ruggieri (1543–1607), Jesuit mis ...
.
This left the remaining Province of Bari with 41 ''comuni'' and an adjusted population of 1,248,084 as of the 2005 census.
*
Acquaviva delle Fonti
Acquaviva delle Fonti ( nap, label= Barese, Iacquavìve ; known as just Acquaviva until 1863) is an town and of 20,446 inhabitants, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, Italy. Acquaviva is famous for its characteristic red onions, which h ...
*
Adelfia
Adelfia ( el, Αδέλφια, meaning ''brothers''; Barese: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The town is south of central Bari, and is a combination of two smaller towns, Montrone and Canneto ...
*
Alberobello
*
Altamura
Altamura (, ; nap, label= Barese, Ialtamùre) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is located on one of the hills of the Murge plateau in the Metropolitan City of Bari, southwest of Bari, close to the border with Basili ...
*
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ital ...
*
Binetto
*
Bitetto
*
Bitonto
Bitonto (; nap, label= Bitontino, Vetònde) is a city and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari ( Apulia region), Italy. It lies to the west of Bari. It is nicknamed the "City of Olives", due to the numerous olive groves surrounding the ...
*
Bitritto
*
Capurso
Capurso ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of around 16,000 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. ...
*
Casamassima
Casamassima ( Barese: ) is a town and '' comune'' of 19,786 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. Is also called "The Blue Town". The town is located inland from the Italian coastline, thrives and is built on a ...
*
Castellana Grotte
Castellana Grotte ( Castellanese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. ''Grotte'' means "caves" in Italian.
History
Geography
Agricultural center of the lower Murgia, it is south of Bari.
Caves ...
*
Cellamare
*
Conversano
Conversano ( Barese: ) is an ancient town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. It is southeast of Bari and from the Adriatic coast, at above sea level.
The counts of Conversano owned a stud that they u ...
*
Corato
Corato ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in Italy. It is located in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, in southeastern Italy. Founded by the Normans, it became subject to Alfonso V, king of Aragon, at the end of the 15th century, and late ...
*
Gioia del Colle
Gioia del Colle (; Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The town is located on the Murge plateau at above sea level, between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Physical geography Territory ...
*
Giovinazzo
Giovinazzo ( Barese: ) is a town, '' comune'' (municipality) and former bishopric within the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia region, southeastern Italy.
History
It was a small fortified centre of the Romans, who called it Natolium, maybe bui ...
*
Gravina in Puglia
Gravina in Puglia (; nap, label= Barese, Gravéine ; la, Silvium; grc, Σιλούϊον, Siloúïon) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
The word ''gravina'' comes from the Latin ''grava'' or from ...
*
Grumo Appula
*
Locorotondo
*
Modugno
Modugno ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
Before the 1970s this town was mainly dedicated to agriculture; since construction of an industrial zone, it has become an important factory s ...
*
Mola di Bari
*
Molfetta
Molfetta (; Molfettese: ) is a town located in the northern side of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
It has a well restored old city, and its own dialect.
History
The earliest local signs of permanent habitation are ...
*
Monopoli
Monopoli (; Monopolitano: ) is a town and municipality in Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia. The town is roughly in area and lies on the Adriatic Sea about southeast of Bari. It has a population of 49,24 ...
*
Noci
*
Noicattaro
Noicattaro (, Barese: ; known as Noja until 1862) is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia, southern Italy.
The Mother Church (''Chiesa Madre'') dates to the 12th–13th centuries and is built in Apulian- ...
*
Palo del Colle
Palo del Colle ( Palese: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari
The Metropolitan City of Bari ( it, Città Metropolitana di Bari) is a metropolitan city in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Bari. It ...
*
Poggiorsini
*
Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare (; Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. The local economy mostly depends on tourism, agriculture and fishing.
History
The area has been settle ...
*
Putignano
Putignano ( Barese: ) is an Italian town of 26 644 inhabitants located in the Murgia of the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. It is known for its ancient Carnival, for textile manufacturing companies and for karst caves.
P ...
*
Rutigliano
Rutigliano (; Barese: ) is a town and commune in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in t ...
*
Ruvo di Puglia
''"Ruvo died to revive, like the Phoenix of Heliopolis, from the ashes of itself"''
Ruvo di Puglia (; nap, label= Ruvese, Rìuve ) is a city and '' comune (municipality)'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari in Apulia, southern Italy. It is a ve ...
*
Santeramo in Colle Santeramo in Colle ( Santermano: ) is a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia, southern Italy.
Its current name comes from St Erasmus, martyr of the Diocletian era and patron saint of the city who, according to legend, is respo ...
*
Sannicandro di Bari
Sannicandro di Bari ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.
Main sights
The main attraction of Sannicandro is the Hohenstaufen-Norman castle, located in the centre of the city. It is composed ...
*
Terlizzi
Terlizzi ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the region of Apulia in southern Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, lying to the west of the seaport of Bari on the Adriatic Sea, in the midst of a fertile plain. , its population was some 27 ...
*
Toritto
Toritto ( Barese: or ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia, southern Italy.
It lies in an agricultural area, growing mainly almond and olive trees, about 20 km from the Adriatic Sea.
History
T ...
*
Triggiano
*
Turi
*
Valenzano
Government
List of Metropolitan Mayors of Bari
Economy
The arable land in the Province of Bari is exploited with the cultivation of
olive and
grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus '' Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years a ...
s but also cherries,
peach
The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-f ...
es, and
almonds. From that agricultural activity is derived
olive oil,
wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
and table grapes.
Bitonto is especially noted for its extra virgin olive oil, and
Corato
Corato ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in Italy. It is located in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, in southeastern Italy. Founded by the Normans, it became subject to Alfonso V, king of Aragon, at the end of the 15th century, and late ...
(with the
Coratina
There are hundreds of cultivars of the olive (''Olea europaea''). As one of the oldest and more important domesticated crops raised by humans, the olive tree has diverged naturally and with the assistance of man into many varieties. Olive cultivars ...
olive variety) and Giovinazzo are along notable producing areas. The centers of wine production are mainly concentrated in
Gravina and
Ruvo di Puglia
''"Ruvo died to revive, like the Phoenix of Heliopolis, from the ashes of itself"''
Ruvo di Puglia (; nap, label= Ruvese, Rìuve ) is a city and '' comune (municipality)'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari in Apulia, southern Italy. It is a ve ...
, in the north of Bari, and
Adelfia
Adelfia ( el, Αδέλφια, meaning ''brothers''; Barese: ) is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The town is south of central Bari, and is a combination of two smaller towns, Montrone and Canneto ...
,
Noicattaro
Noicattaro (, Barese: ; known as Noja until 1862) is a town and '' comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari and region of Apulia, southern Italy.
The Mother Church (''Chiesa Madre'') dates to the 12th–13th centuries and is built in Apulian- ...
,
Rutigliano
Rutigliano (; Barese: ) is a town and commune in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in t ...
and
Locorotondo, in the south of Bari. Also important is the production of cherries; the Apulian red is especially prevalent in the countryside of
Turi and
Putignano
Putignano ( Barese: ) is an Italian town of 26 644 inhabitants located in the Murgia of the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. It is known for its ancient Carnival, for textile manufacturing companies and for karst caves.
P ...
.
References
External links
Official website
{{Coord, 41, 7, 31, N, 16, 52, 0, E, source:itwiki_type:adm2nd, display=title
Bari