Our Fragassi family came from Bitritto, a part of Bari. The thumbnails below are actual photos of Bari around the time period they got on the boat.
hlotisBari, the Adriatic coastal city and capitol of Puglia, Italy, is known for many things. There is some evidence that it may have been inhabited as early as 1500 BCE. It has been controlled by Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Goths, Lombards, Byzantines, Normans, and Venetians and became part of the kingdom of Naples in 1557 (I didn't know Naples was a kingdom).
In the 9th century AD it was a Moorish stronghold, but it was taken by the Byzantines in 885. Peter the Hermit preached the First Crusade there in 1096. Razed by the Sicilians in 1156, it acquired new greatness in the 13th century under Frederick II. It became an independent duchy in the 14th century, passed to the Kingdom of Naples in 1558, and became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
In short, it's seen a lot of action through the centuries.
It is connected by road, rail, and ship to other Adriatic ports and is now connected by road to Naples. It was badly damaged in World War II. It was called Little Pearl Harbour for the German bombing of Liberty Ships on December 2, 1943. Some more links about this disaster are as follows: Bari- The Second Pearl Harbour , and this is just an astonishing coincidence of names, but the 15th Air Force has important history in Bari, too.
Noteworthy buildings include the Romanesque basilica (1087–1197), a major place of pilgrimage, with relics of St. Nicholas of Bari (see Nicholas, Saint); the Romanesque cathedral (12th cent.); and the Hohenstaufen castle (1233). The city has a university founded in 1924.
Take a look at Wikipedia, for starters.
View a nice slideshow in beautiful color on Webshots.
This town is thriving and more things are being discovered online. Check back in a while or add your own findings- please!
http://www.ba.infn.it/bari.html
http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/italy/bari/bari.html
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