San Giorgio: Coast, Nature and History in the Bari Area

At Cala San Giorgio, the Lama San Giorgio flows into the Adriatic in the Bari area. This allows you to discover San Giorgio through its coast, nature, history and culture: the landscape extends from a protected natural area and distinctive rock formations to historic buildings, museums and regional traditions.

Lama San Giorgio and protected landscape

In 1997, the region identified Lama San Giorgio as a protected natural area. Its significance in terms of natural history, landscape, archaeology and culture was decisive. A section approximately three kilometres long leads from the Bariblu shopping centre to San Giorgio and features caves, natural cavities, high rock walls and steep country roads. Above the lama, a sign beside an unpaved path points to a school natural history trail. Here, you can encounter different forms of landscape and connections with nature.

Historical traces and regional architecture

Archaeological finds confirm that the portus of San Giorgio served as a landing place from Roman times through the Middle Ages and beyond. The rock settlement of San Giorgio included an above-ground church whose style and building materials correspond to the type of rural pre-Romanesque churches found in Apulia. The Villaggio Turistico San Giorgio was inaugurated in 1957. Five trulli were built on the grounds of International Camping San Giorgio to show visitors a characteristic regional building tradition.

Museums in the surrounding area

The surrounding area of San Giorgio is home to the Dipartimento di Zoologia museum, the Museum of Science of the Heart and the Mostra SenzAtomica museum. The Margherita Theatre is also among the museums in the same area. These destinations broaden the perspective beyond San Giorgio's historical traces.

Beach, natural formations and gardens

Other destinations in the surrounding area include Spiaggia Pane e Pomodoro beach, the natural arch Arco Delle Meravigli, the Orto Botanico garden and Giardino Santa Scolastica. If you would like to vary your days, you can consider the beach, natural formations and garden spaces as separate focal points.

Celebrations and windsurfing

During the traditional celebrations in Bari at the beginning of May, a historical costume procession begins in San Giorgio. The image of Saint Nicholas of Myra is placed on a boat and taken to the Nazario Sauro waterfront promenade. Cala San Giorgio is also considered a spot for windsurfing sessions organised by CAT SURF Sailing; windsurfers were able to sail there on the thermal easterly wind. Here, tradition and water sports offer two different ways to experience the coast.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When choosing a hotel in San Giorgio, you can base your focus on these specific features: the portus, the rock settlement, the church and the trulli represent history and architecture; the lama and its rock formations represent nature; Cala San Giorgio and the Adriatic represent the coast. Museums, the beach and gardens in the surrounding area add to the possible destinations for day trips. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to the experiences you would like to include in your stay.

Discover more places

Noicattaro, Mariotto, Torre A Mare, Minervino Murge, Monopoli, Castellana Grotte, Macchia Di Monte, Ruvo Di Puglia

For the higher-level travel overview: Bari.