Have you ever thought of visiting an underground Bari?
In the heart of Bari Vecchia, a 16th-century palace hides in its foundations an almost unknown piece of Bari’s history.
This building is Palazzo Simi, built on the remains of a Byzantine church and the remains of structures from the Roman era.
Do you want to discover Palazzo Simi? Then continue reading!
Palazzo Simi and the Underground Museum
In 1670 Palazzo Simi, an old Renaissance mansion, was sold to the Simi de Burgis family.
This noble family and its heirs lived in the Palace until the early 1900s when they abandoned the building.
Only in the 1980s did restoration work on the building begin. During one of these interventions, the underground museum hidden in the foundations of the Palace came to light.
The foundations of Palazzo Simi stood on a 10th-century Byzantine church dedicated to San Gregorio de Falconibus. In this church, you can admire three apses and an altar.
But the surprises didn’t end there! During the excavations, the archaeologists found that this Byzantine church stood on the remains of some Roman buildings.
After long restoration works, Palazzo Simi became the headquarters for the Superintendence of Archaeological Heritage of Puglia, and its basements transformed into a surprising underground museum.
READ MORE: Museums of Bari: The Archaeological Museum of Santa Scolastica
The underground museum of Palazzo Simi
The underground museum of Palazzo Simi is approximately 3 meters underground.
You can enter the museum by a staircase that runs alongside the ancient oven of the building, which a few years ago was still used as a city oven.
Going down into the basement of Palazzo Simi, you can admire the altar and the three apses of the Byzantine church. In particular, the central apse preserves a beautiful wall decoration representing the four Fathers of the Church in bishop’s robes.
The structure of the Byzantine church also has a small cemetery area, with three visitable tombs.
The underground museum of Palazzo Simi also shows the remains of ancient Roman buildings dating back to the 1st century AD, on which the foundations of the Byzantine church rest.
READ MORE: Museums of Bari: The Art Gallery “Corrado Giaquinto”
How to get to Palazzo Simi
Palazzo Simi is located in the heart of the Bari Vecchia district, overlooking Strada Lamberti and a few steps from the Cathedral of San Sabino.
You can visit the underground museum Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 6.15 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8.30 am to 12.45 pm.
Entrance to the museum is always free! That is why Palazzo Simi is an unmissable stop for those who want to discover the layered history of Bari.
Do you want to explore Palazzo Simi with the fantastic guides of Free Walking Tour Bari?
Book your private tour now by selecting the Your Tour option and get ready for an extraordinary journey back in time!