The protest of the historic pasta makers is back in Bari Vecchia. In the heart of the old town, some women blocked the street with their stalls after the Administrative Police seized more than 150 kilos of products - taralli, sun-dried tomatoes and especially orecchiette - because they were put on sale without authorization. Three traders were fined for illegal occupation of public land, and some of the goods, along with the stalls, ended up under seizure. The affair reignites a controversy that has been going on for some time. On the one hand, there is the city administration's desire to protect the tradition of fresh orecchiette, a symbol of Bari and an attraction for tourists; on the other, there is the need to enforce the rules. “Pasta makers can show how orecchiette is prepared and keep its image alive”, explained Local Development Councillor Pietro Petruzzelli, "but the sale is allowed only with the proper authorizations, especially when industrial products are involved. A delicate balance, in short, between legality and tradition. It is no coincidence that the so-called “orecchiette dispute” has been going on since 2024, with an investigation opened by the Public Prosecutor's Office to verify whether mass-produced orecchiette are not being passed off as artisanal behind the tables in Bari Vecchia.