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Colonna della giustizia

73 Reviews

#18 of 134 things to do in Bari

Sights & Landmarks, Points of Interest & Landmarks

Piazza Mercantile, 70100, Bari, Italy

Review Highlights

“Pillar of shame”

This is a 'hidden element' on the Piazza Mercantile, but you should not miss it. It is an historic... read more

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Alfred V

Amsterdam

“For debtors and for tourists.”

This pillar was erected in Bari by the Spanish Viceroy Pedro de Toledo in the middle of the XVI... read more

Reviewed 12 June 2018

VadimM67

Murmansk, Russia

Read all 73 reviews

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Certificate of Excellence

Traveller Overview

4.0 73 reviews

Excellent43%
Very good36%
Average20%
Poor1%
Terrible0%

4 weeks ago

“Pillar of shame”

12 Jun 2018

“For debtors and for tourists.”

About

Suggested duration: < 1 hour

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Piazza Mercantile, 70100, Bari, Italy

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Alfred V

Amsterdam

1003315

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Pillar of shame

This is a 'hidden element' on the Piazza Mercantile, but you should not miss it. It is an historic landmark, where bad debtors used to be humiliated in public.

Thank Alfred V

VadimM67

Murmansk, Russia

19191142

Reviewed 12 June 2018

For debtors and for tourists.

This pillar was erected in Bari by the Spanish Viceroy Pedro de Toledo in the middle of the XVI century. To take and not to give was a good tradition in Puglia. Debtors to banks or individuals were chained to a shameful column. Lion is...More

Thank VadimM67

Manuela L

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

65951662

Reviewed 12 March 2018

Colonna della Giustizia / Bari

On the nice italian square Piazza Mercantile, in the heart of Bari, the old town , is a historical monument, a stone column , called Colonna della Giustizia.

Thank Manuela L

Vladimir1998

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

460208

Reviewed 14 February 2018

Okay... I guess?

Read now on TripAdvisor what the column is about. Almost did not notice it, and it's actually a pretty cool thing. Could use an information plaque.

Thank Vladimir1998

Tony M

Malta

542270

Reviewed 6 January 2018

Took a photo and moved on

Found in one corner at the far end of Piazza Mercantile. The age of the column and lion are evident from the worn surfaces. People seem to climb on the lion's back to take selfies and generally fool around. Had to wait for a while...More

Thank Tony M

David B

318

Reviewed 2 August 2017

A hidden gem

Dating back to 16th century, this historical artifact depicts where insolvent debtors used to be punishment. One of the many wonders of Bari

Thank David B

KrisD_pl

Warsaw, Poland

934464

Reviewed 18 February 2017

The column of justice

Dating back to 16th century, this column - accompanied by a figure of a lion - was a place where insolvent debtors used to be exposed for punishment by public humiliation.