Bari: between the East and West

Business and Exhibitions magazine № 6 (66) 2013

Italy achieved the status of the world’s leader in the exhibition business a long time ago. Milan, Rome and Bologna are well-known exhibition venues. Even though Bari did not get that fame yet, it is still one of the exhibition centers in Italy. 

There are special exhibition centers to hold fairs almost in all big cities of Italy. Millions of participants come to Milan, Rome, Bologna, Verona, and Venice every year for various exhibitions. Bari is not that famous among Russians. Only football fans are probably aware of it, thanks to the once known football club Bari. Meanwhile, the city is the second economy center of Southern Italy after Napoli. There are one of the most important ports and a large international airport in Bari. The city is primarily famous among fair industry by the E.A. Fiera del Levante exhibition centre, which takes the 29th position in the world’s rating list (UFI classification). 

The E.A. Fiera del Levante exhibition centre was founded by the company of the same name in 1929 having been initiated by municipality and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bari. The total area of 280 thousand square meters, including the covered area of 128 thousand square meters, houses over 10 roomy pavilions, several administrative buildings, conference halls, galleries and restaurants. The whole territory contains 50 constructions which can be used to hold events of different scales: from a small photo exhibition to a big industrial forum of the international level. Around two thousand Italian and foreign exhibitors participate in the centre’s events every year and about 500 thousand visitors come to see these exhibitions. 

There is a luxurious fountain in the middle of the exhibition centre which is a historical symbol of Fiera del Levante. The most modern pavilions were built in 2011 and 2012, including a new pavilion for glider conferences which can accommodate 6400 people. There is also a pavilion of 11 conference halls outfitted with the latest in technical equipment. You will find a fine garden on top of it to hold exclusive business meetings. 

The exhibition centre in Bari is Italy’s 5th large-scaled centre, giving it up to Fiera Milano (345 thousand square meters), BolognaFiere (200 thousand square meters), Fiera di Roma (167 thousand square meters) and Verona Fiere (136 thousand square meters). 

Around 2.000 Italian and foreign exhibitors participate in the centre’s events every year and about 500.000 visitors come to see these exhibitions

Fiera del Levante is a member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and also a member of the Italian Association of Exhibitions and Fairs (AEFI). The biggest part of events is held by other companies, but some of them are organized by Fiera del Levante. The centre collaborates with trading associations and other organizations involved in the trade fair industry. 

The exhibition centre holds many diverse exhibitions of all tastes: Medimex Exhibition of Mediterranean Sea Music, Levante Proof International Exhibition of Bread Baking and Confection, Expoarte International Exhibition of Modern Art and plenty of others.

Fiera del Levante International Exhibition and Trade Fair was the first large-scale project held in a just built centre. This event was launched in September 1930s and since that time it has become the most significant annual event of the centre. The multiproduct trade and fair gathers around 800 exhibits and 200 thousand visitors under one roof. The income of the event reaches 10 million Euros! 

This fair brings to Bari all the shopping-lovers of the world in the middle of September. It is really difficult to find available rooms in hotels. Taxi and other public transport are also better to book in advance. There are free parking lots available for the visitors. Moreover, shuttle buses will get you to the entrance of any pavilion. The entrance charge is 7 euro. 

The diversity of master-classes and shows are regularly held during exhibitions in the central area. But after all, the most important thing is the exposition of products. It is yet the only exhibition in the entire world where anything is possible to find and buy: from toys, fashion clothes, designers' knick-knackery to luxurious yachts and serial cars. Italians come to Bari from all over the country because the exhibition held in September is a great opportunity to get things with a big discount. Actors, sportsmen and politicians get spotted quite often at the events. 

Fiera del Levante exhibition and fair was held for the 77th time in September, 2013.
It is the only exhibition in the entire world where anything is possible to find and buy: from toys,
fashion clothes, designers' knick-knackery to luxurious yachts and serial cars.

Besides the main Fiera del Levante exhibition, which was held in September of 2013 for the 77th time, it is worthwhile to highlight the Promessi Sposi National Exhibition, dedicated to the institute of marriage. This project has gathered all possible awards and is the leading event of this kind in Southern Italy for 15 years. Over 3 thousand exhibitors take part in the wedding salon. They offer to newlyweds different goods and services for the wedding ceremony’s organization. Within the framework of the event different contests are held, like The Best Wedding Dress and The Best Wedding Cake. Several themed master-classes are also a traditional part of the programme. 

The Fiera del Levante management company is also actively involved in the congress business. Over 120 events (from closed meetings to conferences counting a thousand participants) are annually held in the 12 conference halls of different scales. 

Fiera del Levante has begun to develop a new project in 2011: Daily Exhibition. Those who are willing to organize a permanent exhibition space can rent a pad for a long-term period with a significant discount. This means that, a quarter of exhibition projects operate the whole year round. This fact is useful for business leaders as they are able to organize new fairs, conferences, congresses and to set a permanent business place. “Bari is the go-between of the East and West” is the Fiera del Levante motto, as they are oriented to the wide range of events for the international community. The centre can easily be named an important strategy player in the Italian economy development. 

To get complete information on the exhibition centre in Bari, please visit the official website of the centre: fieradellevante.it One of the website’s sections offers to examine the premises in 3D, where everyone interested can have a virtual tour around and look at any place in Fiera del Levante. A huge work of the developers is behind this function: over 100 panoramic views are available to explore the exhibition centre both inside and out.
 

Alexey SHABUROV,
The President of Sokolniki Museum and Educational Centre.

The city of Bari has a special significance for the Russian Orthodox Church. Here the great relic of Christians, the relics of Nikolaos of Myra are located inside the Papal Basilica and have been for about a thousand years (since 1087). This is one of the most revered saints in Russia, also known as Saint Nicholas or Nikolaos the Wonderworker. A pilgrimage to Bari is quite popular among Russians. The Russian Orthodox Church has its own temple in the city, named after Nikolaos the Wonderworker. It was built during 1911-1918 thanks to public funds with the support of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society. The temple is designed in a Novgorod style according to the project of the architect A.V. Schusev.