Pinacoteca Corrado Giaquinto
Tucked inside the Palazzo della Provincia on Lungomare Nazario Sauro, Bari's city art gallery holds one of the most significant collections of southern Italian Baroque painting in existence — and on most days you will have it almost entirely to yourself.
The Collection
The gallery is named after Corrado Giaquinto, the Molfetta-born painter who became court artist to King Ferdinand VI of Spain, and his luminous, pastel-toned canvases dominate several rooms. His 'Allegory of Peace and Justice' alone is worth the entrance fee.
Beyond Giaquinto, the collection spans the 15th to 19th centuries and includes works by Paolo Veronese, Palma il Vecchio and a remarkable group of Neapolitan Baroque painters including Luca Giordano — quality that would draw long queues in a more famous city.
The Building Itself
The palazzo dates from the early 20th century and the gallery occupies its upper floors, with tall windows overlooking the Adriatic — making this one of the few art galleries in Italy where you can glance between a Baroque altarpiece and a sparkling sea view.
The decorative arts section includes majolica ceramics from Grottaglie, the Puglian town famous for its pottery, and a collection of historic Bari maps that illustrate how radically the city has changed since the Spanish Viceroyalty.
Practical Advice
The gallery is genuinely uncrowded — even in July and August — which makes it a perfect refuge during the midday heat when the streets outside are scorching.
Audio guides are available in Italian and English; the staff are knowledgeable and often happy to talk about specific works if you show curiosity. Photography without flash is permitted throughout.
Pinacoteca Corrado Giaquinto on video
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