Bari is located on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It serves as the capital city of both the region of Apulia and the Metropolitan City of Bari. The city is recognized as one of the most significant economic centers in mainland southern Italy.
As a major port and university city, Bari is also known as the city of Saint Nicholas. It ranks as the ninth-largest city in Italy, with a population of 316,248 within the city limits and approximately 750,000 inhabitants in the urban area. Its metropolitan province is the fifth-largest metropolitan city in the country, housing a total population of 1,218,073.