Bari

[sea-explorer]

I have recently booked the Eastern Med cruise on MSC Poesia next August and am trying to do a little research about the ports.

 

I believe it is following the same itinery as this years Orchestra.

 

From the boards, it appears the best idea for my family in Bari is a trip to the sassi in Matera.

 

Can anyone who has been tell me if it is possible to do this ourselves or would we be better using a ship excursion?

 

Thanks. :)

[sea-explorer]

Just thought I would add a little to this. I haven't just posted & sat back & waited, I've been doing a little research & have discovered one or two things. (Including the fact that I can't spell itinerary!!)

 

There is a train to Matera, but it isn't any quicker, it also takes an hour and a half and then there will be the additional time taken to get to the sassi. They also run hourly, so if you just miss one there's no chance of geting there & back in time. Finally, they don't run on Sundays, which is the day we are docked, so the conclusion is, the sassi is probably best done on a ships' shore excursion.

 

As Bari appears to be one of those "difficult" ports, maybe it will be helpful to share if we find out anything, so I'll pop in a couple of links here that I've picked up, in case they are useful to anyone.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bari

 

http://http://www.ba.infn.it/~zito/barimiss.html

 

There is a beach too, I believe, although I haven't quite pinpointed it yet.

 

http://www.igougo.com/travelcontent/journalEntryActivity.aspx?Mode=2&ReviewID=1187253

 

If anyone out there has been & has any insight or good ideas, I would be grateful.

 

Thanks. :)