Art, history, and beauty: this May, the "Stone Gardens" showcase Bari Vecchia

"Giardini di Pietra" returns, the May festival that explores the soul of old Bari

From May 4th to 31st, unmissable events include historic courtyards, performances, guided tours, and live culture in the ancient heart of the city.
A whole month to experience the magic of Bari Vecchia like you've never seen it before.
From May 4th to 31st, 2025 , "Giardini di Pietra – Luoghi, versi e storie a Bari Vecchia" , a cultural festival now in its second edition that transforms the historic center into a veritable open-air theater, featuring art, literature, music, and urban itineraries.

The event, organized by Aps Martinus with the support of the Bari Chamber of Commerce, is inspired by the charm of the "Maggio barese" and offers a rich calendar of events designed to help people rediscover Bari with new eyes, enhancing its tangible and intangible heritage.

May events in old Bari

The program opens on Sunday, May 4th and Monday, May 5th with two introductory events, before getting into full swing on Saturday, May 10th , when the festival will officially open in the evocative Corte Bianchi Dottula , in the heart of Bari Vecchia. From that moment on, every corner of the historic center —from the thousand-year-old churches to the hidden courtyards—will be the focus of book presentations, exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, and guided tours in the heart of Bari Vecchia .

Among the symbolic spaces of the 2025 edition are the church of San Martino , reopened after 60 years thanks to the Aps Martinus, and the Corte Bianchi Dottula , brought back to its ancient splendor thanks to a careful restoration: it will be here that many of the events will take place, immersed in history and stone.

A journey through stone, history, and identity

Giardini di Pietra isn't just a festival, but an immersive experience: each event is an invitation to rediscover Bari's secrets , amid picturesque arches, lost monasteries, and stories resurfacing from the sculpted facades of the historic center. This year, the focus expands : places and stories from Puglia , for a cultural journey that encompasses the entire region.