Tourists come for the pasta in Bari – and leave locals with higher rents

The historic Italian city of Bari is known for its narrow streets and distinctly shaped Orecchiette pasta, but a sharp rise in tourism means locals have been left grappling with crowds, a lack of parking and soaring rents.

The port city Puglia in southern Italy sits on the Adriatic sea. Since the clean up of mafia strongholds in parts of the city’s old town, the area has become a haven for tourists seeking sun, sand and delights from its famed “pasta grannies” who hand make the small, round “little ears” in the street.

“The more tourists come, the more important we feel, because it means our city is well-liked,” Mayor Vito Leccese told The New York Times in March.

But now, Bari, which only has a population of around 314,000, is experiencing a level of tourism that is testing the limi