3 October 2026 · by Altomare Immobiliare

Torre a Mare, the coastal village 13 km from Bari town centre

A tower, a harbour, a square

To understand Torre a Mare, all you need do is look at the square.

At its centre stands the sixteenth-century watchtower that gives the place its name, sitting alone in a renovated square overlooking the harbour. Around it, the rest: the mole, the boats, a monument to the fisherman by Mario Piergiovanni (2002) in piazzetta Mar del Plata.

The harbour is equipped for both commercial fishing and pleasure boats. At weekends, the area around the mole and piazzetta is one of the busiest gathering spots, drawing people from nearby villages too.

If you're looking for a home by the sea in Bari, but away from the hurried city, this is one of the places to consider.

From fishing village to Bari neighbourhood

History helps explain the character of this place.

The tower was built around 1500 to defend the coast from pirate raids, as part of a chain of coastal fortifications. The locality was called Torre Pelosa (Hairless Tower) for centuries and was long the marine settlement of the nearby centre of Noicattaro: a small fishing village. In 1865 the railway station opened on the Bari–Lecce line, and in 1893 the Church of San Nicola, patron saint of sailors, was built.

In 1934 Torre Pelosa was annexed to Bari and a few years later, by royal decree in 1938, took its present name. Before that it had already become a summer holiday destination for people living in Bari and inland towns.

Today Torre a Mare is part of Municipio 1 and home to roughly 5,000 inhabitants across just over five square kilometres. It is the southernmost-eastern neighbourhood, bordering Noicattaro and Mola di Bari.

Getting around

Bari's centre is about 13 kilometres away. That's the first thing to consider, especially if you work in the city every day.

Three connections are available. The SS16 ring road, with dedicated exits for Torre a Mare. The train: the station, managed by RFI, is served by Trenitalia regional trains to Bari Centrale and elsewhere (the station sits formally in Noicattaro's territory but serves the locality). And buses, run by AMTAB and Miccolis.

We won't quote you timetables and frequencies—they change, and you should check the operators' websites. If you're thinking of giving up the car, try it during the actual hours you'd be travelling.

The seafront

In February 2022, Bari council presented the first stretch of the new pedestrian seafront (lungomare) at Torre a Mare: roughly 150 metres south of the village, with trees, seating and new lighting, replacing two lanes of asphalt. To extend the project towards the residential area and southwards, hydrogeological permits were being awaited at that time.

That's old news: if the seafront interests you, ask or check the current status of the work.

What properties are there

The newer part of the village consists mainly of modern villas and residential complexes spreading inland. From here stems the dual character of the locality: summer holiday homes and, increasingly, permanent residences.

In the listings gathered from Caasa.it in September 2026 you'll find small apartments, some renovated and just steps from the shore, but also three-bedroom flats. Caasa also features pages dedicated to four-bedroom units, detached houses and villas in the area.

People who buy here usually have three reasons: the sea, the peace and quiet, the greenery around the home. If you're unsure, visit the area more than once, at different times and hours.

Property prices at Torre a Mare

For prices, we rely on two sources that tell different stories.

According to asking prices in listings recorded by Caasa.it in October 2026, apartments for sale at Torre a Mare are advertised at around €2,370/m², with most listings between €1,750 and €3,210/m². These are sellers' asking prices, not actual sales prices.

The official valuations from the Observatory of the Property Market (Agenzia delle Entrate), shown on the same page for the OMI zone E7 (San Giorgio – Torre a Mare), indicate €1,430 to €1,890/m² for apartments.

Why the difference? OMI valuations describe a wider area, while listings tell you what people are asking today, often for newer properties or ones well-positioned by the sea. The truth lies somewhere between, and depends on the property and street.

For rental, Caasa.it in October 2026 reports around €11.8/m² per month, with a very wide range (€7.4 to €21). For OMI zone E7, official rental valuations are €5 to €6.6/m² per month. Rental listings in the area are few, so the average should be taken with caution.

Before you decide: three questions

How would you live at Torre a Mare outside the season? Try going there on a winter's day, at any time, and look around.
How will you travel? If your job is in Bari, calculate the real journey time, there and back.
Are you interested in a detached house or a flat? At Torre a Mare the two types coexist and have different prices and lifestyles.

When you think it through carefully, these are the same questions worth asking about any neighbourhood. But here, the answers matter more than elsewhere.

If you'd like a hand finding your way, get in touch: we've worked in Bari since 1986. You can look at the properties available. And if you have a home at Torre a Mare and are thinking of selling, sell with us.