After the Barletta Marathon: Bari

The Route: Barletta → Bari → Bari Airport (BRI) Logistics: Regional train from Barletta to Bari Centrale, then a short walk to the old town. A rail link runs from the city to the airport the next day. Marathon Month: February Duration: 1 night

Barletta ──(50-70 mins regional train)──> Bari Centrale ──(walk 15 mins)──> Bari Vecchia
                                                │
                    Bari Airport (BRI) ◄──(airport rail link)────────────┘

The Barletta Marathon ends on a Sunday in mid-February. Bari is a sensible next stop: it is the biggest city on this stretch of coast, it is the airport most runners will fly from, and it gives a one-night trip with a proper meal and a walk that is mostly level.

February in Bari: cool and often windy, with daytime temperatures in the low teens and a fair chance of rain. Nobody is on the beach. The old town is compact, which suits a short stay.

Regional trains run from Barletta to Bari Centrale, taking somewhere between 50 and 70 minutes depending on the service, and Ferrotramviaria also runs a line between the two. Buy the ticket at the station or on the operator's app before boarding, and check trenitalia.com or ferrotramviaria.it for the Monday timetable.

Night one: Bari Vecchia

Bari Vecchia is the old town, a tight knot of white limestone streets on a peninsula between the harbour and the seafront. The paving is smooth and often slippery, and there are few steps, so it is manageable on tired legs at a slow pace.

The primary walk is the Lungomare Nazario Sauro and the seafront promenade, which is flat, paved and lined with benches, and long enough to fill an hour if you want one. Inside the old town, the Basilica di San Nicola is the main sight. Pilgrims have visited it since the 11th century for the relics of Saint Nicholas, and entry is free, though you should check the hours at the door. The Norman-Swabian castle sits at the edge of the old town, and interior access and prices vary, so check current details before planning to go in.

On Strada Arco Basso in the old town, local women make orecchiette by hand and sell them from their doorways. It is worth the short detour, and many will sell you a bag to take home.

Two hotels appear in listings for the central district. The Palace Hotel Bari is a four-star property near the historic centre, and the Mövenpick Hotel Bari is another option. Confirm each hotel's location and February rates before booking, and choose the one closer to the station if your legs are still stiff.

For dinner, Al Pescatore, in Piazza Federico II di Svevia in the old town, serves seafood. Check its opening days, as some restaurants close on a Monday.

Getting to Bari Airport (BRI)

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) has its own railway station, on the Ferrotramviaria line from the city, and the ride takes under half an hour. Check the timetable for your flight and buy a ticket at the station. If you are flying early, be at the station well before the first departure. A taxi is the fallback.