After six months in Sicily, I have come to love this island, which surprised me with its diversity, fascinating landscapes, beautiful cities, interesting islands, great food and genuinely friendly and humorous people. It became home immediately.
But it’s time to move on.
I will stay in Italy until the rest of the year, but transfer to the mainland (or “the continent” as some people here say). Next week, I will move to Bari, capital city of Apulia.
I have never been to this part of Italy, and I am looking forward to exploring the south, the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and the Adriatic coast. Bari also has a busy ferry port with connections to the Balkans and I hope I will find the time for my first visits to Montenegro and Albania.
Why did I pick Bari?
One simple reason. I came across this video and I was impressed how happy the city and its people are:
“Wow, living with people like that, I’ll be in a good mood all day every day,” I thought and made the decision. I am quick decider. – Only later did I find out that this “We are happy” song has been turned into videos from almost any city on earth. Well, I’ve never been on top of the music and entertainment news.
Since then I have been warned by some Italians about the terrible accent spoken in Bari. Some have even called it “the ugliest city in Italy”. We will see. I am curious and excited. Stay on board to follow my journey!
UPDATE:
I have arrived in Bari and it’s a beautiful city! I live very close to the waterfront and to the beautiful old city with magnificent churches and a castle. There are plenty of parks around and the whole city is very lively and friendly. – No idea where these negative remarks came from.
About the accent: sometimes I am not sure if people speak barese or Arabic.
The Happy Hermit 
Good luck with the move! There are always good and bad sides to a place and I am sure you will find nice things about Bari!
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Very nice. @1.30 in the clip there is a presenter from http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/
He also appears at @3.30. He covers pro social stories from the South. The Happy song from Napoli is also very good… As for leaving Sicily, listen to what you are leaving behind! Daria is from Palermo…
This might help, there again it might not.
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I was in Bari for a week last September. Beautiful…
I had posted a question about my ability to naturalize in Germany, but it doesn’t appear that it was answered. I was born in West Germany in 1959 and lived in Schwalbach Am Taunus (Frankfurt) until I moved to attend college in the USA at age 20. I took 14 years of German and minored in German in college. Can I apply for a German passport?
Yes, it’s very beautiful here. Not only in Bari, but in the whole region of Puglia (Apulia).
Your question should be answered in my FAQ on obtaining German citizenship.
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Hi Andreas, I just found your blog. Do you have anymore updates on your move to Bari, Italy? I’m very interested in Bari as a possible relocation destination for myself in a few years. I was curious to see what you thought of Bari and if you were happy with your choice. Thank you. Colleen from Canada
Hello Colleen,
there are a few more articles at http://www.andreasmoser.blog/tag/bari , but I only lived there for 6 months.
With relocation recommendations, it’s always difficult, because it depends on what you are looking for.
I liked the old part of town and the promenade for strolling and jogging.
There are really good train connections along the coast and into the hinterland, so it’s easy to explore the surrounding area.
But I had lived in Sicily before and I didn’t feel quite at home in Bari as I had in Sicily. I missed nature, and I also found it harder (almost impossible) to make friends.
In that area, I personally would prefer the other side of the sea, Montenegro or Albania. And then one can take the boat to Bari or Brindisi from time to time.
But it really depends so much on one’s personality. In any case, before relocating, I would recommend to spend some time there, if you can. (I never do, and sometimes it works, sometimes not.)
Thank you Andreas. I definitely need to be near the sea and I’m more comfortable in smaller sized cities or towns that have close access to a larger city for amenities. I love the countryside for it’s beauty and tranquility but thought that it might be isolating. I was thinking Bari would provide me with more opportunities to make friends but I know making friends doesn’t depend solely on population size.
I was also looking for warmer than Canadian climate which isn’t too hard to find, especially in winter, a language that I can learn, a country that uses the euro ideally, safe and stable, good healthcare, option of obtaining citizenship in 5 years (I have an Irish passport so that’s my EU entry taken care of) and reasonably affordable housing and cost of living.
I’ll explore your blog some more and see what you’ve written about the Balkans, Portugal, Spain, etc. Croatia is an option which is near my father’s birth country of Slovenia. I’ll definitely visit before I decide on a place, of course knowing I can always move if the location doesn’t suit me.
Thank you for your help and your inspiring blog!
Colleen
Hello Colleen,
that sounds like a wonderful plan! And as you are an EU citizen already, you can try out different places.
If you are looking for a smaller-sized city, Bari might be too big and sprawling already. I personally liked Messina at the tip of Sicily, and I also found Italian easier to understand in Sicily.
Anywhere around the Mediterranean is milder than Canada, although it may also get too hot in summer. (It’s definitely too hot for me, and the temperatures keep rising year by year.)
As to cost of living, I found it differed a lot with the season. In winter, rents were really cheap in the south of Italy. (I paid 200 €/month for a whole house in Sicily.) But in summer, it would sky-rocket. But if you are staying longer, you will get some average rent, I guess.
In my mind, Slovenia is the most beautiful country within the EU (and Montenegro in all of Europe). But, at least subjectively, their languages are not as easy to learn as Italian.
But then, almost everyone in Slovenia speaks fluent English, whereas in Italy, you really have to learn the language.
But if you are looking into Italy, the good thing is that there are so many small towns (near Bari and elsewhere) that none of us have ever heard of, but if you go there, they will be wonderfully beautiful.
As to safe and stable, I really wouldn’t dismiss any country in the EU and not even within Europe on these grounds. Even when countries undergo political turmoil, it usually doesn’t affect average citizens. I spent last winter in Ukraine, for example, and it was absolutely safe in Kiev and in Odessa. (Although for health reasons, I would probably recommend to stay in the EU.)
Hi Andreas,
Thanks for your personal insight into Bari as I’m in the process of making up my mind where to live in the coming months and I have Bari at the very top of my list. The plan is to seek work teaching English preferably to young learners.
So after ‘x’ amount of years living in Bari, can you share anything new (I’ve read your communication with Colleen)? I’m from Australia but fortunate enough to have EU passport thanks to parents originating from Malta. Before Bari I was considering Sicily but I think the mainland will suit me better.
Thanks again with sharing your thoughts about Bari, it truly helps.
Hello Lorraine,
I can’t add anything new to what I answered to Colleen, as it has been a long time since I lived in Bari.
Just one thing because you contrast Sicily and the mainland: Sicily is so large that it doesn’t really feel like an island. (Not like Malta.) Sicily is also very diverse. It really feels more like a whole country by itself.
And through the ferry at Messina, you are connected to the mainland very easily, regularly and affordably.
If you have no way at taking a look at the different options in person (I usually never do before a move), then I would go by what is the most important factor for you. I personally sometimes made the decision between different towns, which all appealed equally to me, on the cheapest/nicest apartment I could find. After all, the cheaper you live, the less you need to work, the more time you have to enjoy the new area.
If you want to share, I’d be curious to hear about the other options on your list and the parameters you use to make the decision. In any case, I wish you a good move!
cannot wait to visit the area … need a apartment and tour guide…
I can’t help with either, as I no longer live in Bari. :/
I am not sure you need a tour guide, though. There are signs everywhere, and trains that go even to the small towns in the region.
When lost, you just ask!