Strada delle Orecchiette ("Ears" Pasta Street), Bari

They say to get to know the real Bari, one must pay a visit to the Street of the "Little Ears" (Strada delle Orecchiette). It's Low Arch Street (Via dell'Arco Basso). There is a tunnel with a low arch that opens up to a hidden place among the twisting lanes of Old Bari (Bari Vecchia). It is a timeless place that somehow feels like home.

The attractions of the street are the women skillfully creating "Ears" (orecchiette) pasta in front of their homes. They sit behind wooden tables encroaching on the cobbled street, making a comforting, entertaining show for anyone passing by. They smile and chat with each other as they work, once in a while stopping to sell some of their pasta.

Not only do they sell homemade pasta, but visitors may also book a meal at a local home. The actual "ears" pasta section of the street is found between numbers 1 and 25. The "Ears" Pasta Street is just a short walk from the station. One can buy a sack of freshly handmade orecchiette, troccoli (thick spaghetti), cavatelli (small pasta shells), or taralli (Italian snack).