Bari Civic Museum

Museum in Bari

Museo Civico Di Bari — CC BY-SA 4.0 / August Dominus

The Civic Museum of Bari, founded in 1919, is a cultural treasure located in the heart of Bari Vecchia, the city’s historic district. Since 1977, the museum has been housed in a medieval tower house, offering visitors a rich journey through Bari’s history, starting from the Renaissance period. The museum’s collection is diverse, featuring war materials and weapons from the Bourbon period to modern times, as well as artifacts from Italy’s African campaigns and World War I. Among its notable holdings are the first book ever printed in Bari in 1535, matrices of playing cards produced in the city in the late 19th century, and a unique collection of caricatures by Frate Menotti. The museum also boasts a historical photographic archive that captures the city’s artistic and monumental heritage, providing a visual record of Bari’s past.

In addition to its extensive historical collections, the Civic Museum is home to a significant civic library, which includes more than 13,000 volumes, many of which were donated by the De Grecis family after World War I. This library, along with the museum’s exhibits, offers invaluable insights into the cultural and social history of Bari. After a period of closure, the museum reopened in 2015 with a renewed layout, enhancing its role as a key institution for preserving and promoting the rich history of Bari. Managed by a private consortium, the museum continues to be a vital cultural hub, inviting both locals and visitors to explore the city’s storied past through its carefully curated collections.

The Bari Civic Museum appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bari!

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