University of Bari reopens Palazzo Ateneo entrance after 70 years

The University of Bari Aldo Moro has officially reopened the fourth entrance of the Palazzo Ateneo, which overlooks Piazza Cesare Battisti. The entrance had remained closed for nearly seventy years.

Mayor Vito Leccese attended the ceremony, stating that the reopening serves as a physical link between the university and the city of Bari. He expressed a goal to transform Bari from a city that merely contains universities into a true “university city.” The initiative is part of the inaugural calendar for the 2026/2027 academic year.

University Rector Roberto Bellotti and Superintendent Francesca Romana Paolillo also participated in the event. The reopening was marked by the inauguration of an exhibition in the Salone Dorato dedicated to the history of the Palazzo Ateneo.