The short-haul winter sun destination where Santa Claus is buried – you can wear shorts in December and drink 90p beers
AS the days start to get a lot darker and colder, Brits will be frantically hoping for some better weather.
While the weather may not heat up in the UK until next year, several European destinations are much warmer in the winter.
One of those places is the port city of Bari in Italy, where temperatures can reach a warm 17C in December.
While the temperatures aren't exactly sweltering, Brit holidaymakers will easily be able to wear parts of their summer wardrobe during a winter break.
There are plenty of other reasons to visit the Italian city too.
Set in southern Italy, Bari remains largely untouched by Brit holidaymakers, who often choose to spend their Italian summers in places like Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast.
Read More on Italy
Because of its coastal location and medieval buildings, the Pugliese capital has been hailed as the Jewel of the Adriatic by travel experts and tourists alike.
To delve into the city's history, head to Bari Vecchia - the city's historical centre.
Bari Vecchia is a maze of narrow alleyways, open piazzas, and cobbled side streets.
Among the 40 churches in Bari Vecchia, holidaymakers should make a beeline for Basilica di San Nicola (the church of Saint Nicholas).
Most read in Beach holidays
The basilica was one of the first Norman churches to be built in Southern Italy.
It was originally constructed to hold the remains of Father Christmas, which were stolen from Turkey in the 11th century.
Holidaymakers who want to visit the remains of St Nicholas will need to head down to the crypt.
Entry into the cathedral costs €3 (£2.60), and the church is open from 7am until 8pm every day, except for Sundays when it closes at 6pm.
Other attractions in Bari's historical centre include Cattedrale di San Sabino (the city's cathedral) and the "pasta nonnas".
The pasta nonnas are a group of grandmothers who make pasta from scratch on a series of wooden tables on Strada Arco Basso.
Along the street, which has been nicknamed Via delle Orecchiette, visitors will be able to watch the pasta nonnas knead, roll, and shape pieces of orecchiette.
The ear-shaped pasta is a delicacy in Puglia, and it is often served in family-run restaurants in the city.
Other local delicacies include panzerotti (a deep-fat-fried calzone) and an oven-baked dish of rice, potatoes, and mussels.
Despite being a port city, Bari also has its very own beach called Pane e Pomodoro.
This small strip of sand is a 25-minute walk from the city's old town, and it is often used by students and younger holidaymakers.
But there are plenty of better beaches nearby too, including Mola Di Bari Beach and Spiaggia Libera Lato S.Francesco.
Other nearby attractions include the UNESCO-protected town of Alberobello, where holidaymakers will be able to stay in stone buildings known as Trulli.
Ryanair operates direct flights from London to Bari in December for as little as £23 each way.
With a flight time of two hours and 40 minutes, holidaymakers will arrive in the Bari in less time than it takes to get to Athens in Greece.
Food and drink is cheap too, with a bottle of beer costing as little €1 (87p), meanwhile, a meal out at a mid-range restaurant will cost €15 (£13).
Hotels are extremely affordable too with a night at the Travel Station, a three-star hotel with balcony rooms, costing as little as £45 per person per night.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Meanwhile, this European city not far from Bucharest has been named the world's cheapest holiday destination - with £1.60 beers.
And a weekend in this quaint European capital can be booked for £100pp, including flights, food and accommodation.
