Some cities seem born for cinema. Bari is one of those. Walking through its neighborhoods you have the sensation of moving within a natural setting, made up of the sea, ancient alleys and elegant buildings. It is precisely here that we decided to leave for a special journey: to discover the locations of the series first hand Warriors – The rule of balance broadcast on Rai 1 every Monday evening.
The fiction, based on the novels by Gianrico Carofiglio, sees Alessandro Gassmann in the role of the lawyer Guido Guerrieri, a brilliant but profoundly human character, divided between complex trials and a fragile private life. And the city is not just a backdrop. Bari becomes a true protagonist, with its lights, its contrasts and the authentic charm of a Mediterranean metropolis. But before talking about the locations of the series, it is worth finding out what to see in Bari.
The seafront of Bari
One of the first things we did was take a walk on the famous Lungomare Nazario Sauro, considered one of the most beautiful seafronts in Italy. It is several kilometers long and is characterized by monumental street lamps, elegant buildings and an open view of the Adriatic. Here you can really feel the Mediterranean atmosphere of the city. It is no coincidence that this place also appears in the series, with Gassmann cycling along the seafront in moments of reflection between one case and another. You can get to the famous Pane e Pomodoro beach, the place where the people of Bari enjoy the sea a stone’s throw from the city.
Bari Vecchia: the heart of the city
But if there is one place that really captivates those who visit Bari it is Bari Vecchia, the medieval historic center enclosed within ancient walls. Entering here means getting lost in a labyrinth of narrow alleys, stone arches, unexpected little squares and white houses. It is one of the liveliest and most authentic neighborhoods in Italy with clothes hanging between the houses, ladies preparing orecchiette on pastry boards and the scent of Apulian cuisine creating a unique atmosphere.
One of the most important places is the Basilica of St. Nicholas, one of the main pilgrimage sites in the Mediterranean. The church houses the relics of Saint Nicholas, venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox. Walking through the historic center you also arrive at the suggestive Piazza del Ferrarese, one of the main entrances to the old city and one of the liveliest squares. This area also appears several times in the series Warriorsused to tell the daily life of the city.
The Swabian Castle
A few steps from the historic center is one of the most important monuments of Bari: the Norman-Swabian Castle. The fortress was built in the 12th century by the Normans and subsequently rebuilt by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia. Today the castle dominates the area with its imposing walls and medieval towers and is one of the historical symbols of the city. In the surrounding area there is also Piazza Federico II di Svevia, which appears in some scenes of the series.
The Murat neighborhood
After visiting Bari Vecchia it is also worth exploring the Murat District, the most elegant part of the city built in the nineteenth century. Here the streets are wide, regular and full of shops, cafes and historic buildings. It is the most modern and bourgeois Bari, a fascinating contrast with the poetic chaos of the historic center. Palazzo Ietri is also located in this neighborhood, used in the series as the headquarters of the lawyer Guerrieri’s law firm. Its internal courtyard is one of the most recognizable spaces in fiction.
The Court of Bari: the heart of the series
The Court of Bari, in Piazza Enrico De Nicola, is also one of the most recognizable places in the series and represents the center of the professional life of the lawyer Guerrieri. Walking in front of the Palace of Justice means imagining the scenes of the trials, the corridors crowded with lawyers and the moments of tension that animate the fiction. The director wanted to shoot here precisely to convey a realistic and credible dimension of the judicial world
Bari between cinema and reality
After visiting these places you understand why the series chose its setting here. Bari is a city that thrives on contrasts: ancient and modern, chaotic and romantic, noisy and silent at the same time. It is a city that lets itself be discovered slowly, between sea, history and daily life. It is not for nothing that it was also chosen as the location for another Rai drama: The investigations of Lolita Lobosco (of which we leave you a gem for the more passionate, the house of the protagonist).
And rightly so because it is a magnificent place waiting to be discovered where every corner tells a story. The true charm of the city lies in the aimless walks along the seafront, the alleys of Bari Vecchia and the lively squares. It is precisely here that Bari shows its most beautiful face: a city that does not need scenography, because it is already cinematic in its own right.
You might also be interested in:
