Bari's old town at night from the air: Margherita Theatre, the towers of the Swabian Castle and San Sabino Cathedral's bell tower

The Margherita Theatre, the towers of the Norman-Swabian Castle and the bell tower of San Sabino Cathedral overlap in this night-time view of Bari's old town. The photograph was taken by drone about forty metres above the take-off point, looking west-north-west, with a focal length equivalent to 70 mm. The perspective appears compressed: the quay with its long canopy, the theatre and the monuments in the background seem close together, despite their different distances from the camera. The castle stands on the western edge of the old town. Originally a Norman fortress, it was extensively remodelled on the orders of Frederick II between 1233 and 1240. In the sixteenth century it became the residence of Isabella of Aragon and Bona Sforza; today it houses a state museum. San Sabino Cathedral was also rebuilt in the second half of the twelfth century, following the damage it sustained in 1156. The theatre's façade, with its large arched window beneath the dome, and its long harbour-facing side are clearly visible beside the jetties and moored boats. On the left, lights are wrapped around the trunks of the palm trees, and the road curves towards the city centre. The lights of the port area are visible beyond the castle. The photograph was taken on the morning of 6 October 2026, about three quarters of an hour before sunrise, with the sky still dark.

Bari old town, Bari at night, city skyline, Margherita Theatre, Norman-Swabian Castle, Swabian Castle, Frederick II, San Sabino Cathedral, bell tower, telephoto lens, old harbour, aerial photography, drone, Bari, Apulia