Basilica of San Nicola was on top of my list in Bari and the very first thing we've visited in this port city. St. Nicholas is my mother's family Patron Saint so it was a pilgrimage visit to pay our respects. The Basilica is set in the old town, built in a Norman Romanesque style as early as 11c. The Piazza in front is rather small compared to huge Church, so it's pretty difficult to capture it. There's a monument on it dedicated to St. Nicholas - the Miracle maker. Interiors are huge with big columns and uneven arches with wood/gold decorated ceiling and beautiful altar. Downstairs in the crypt are the Saint's relics with his remains. Free entry.

Visiting the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola in Bari was a truly awe-inspiring experience. This historic basilica is free to enter, making it an accessible and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area. One of the first things you'll notice is the stunning ceiling. The intricate designs and artwork are a visual delight, adding to the overall beauty and grandeur of the basilica. What makes this site even more incredible is its history. The fact that it was built nearly 1000 years ago is simply amazing. The sense of history and reverence within its walls is palpable, providing a profound connection to the past. Overall, the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola is a must-visit for its historical significance, architectural beauty, and serene atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Bari. **Pro Tips:** - Take some time to sit and admire the detailed ceiling. - Appreciate the historical significance of the basilica, built nearly a millennium ago. - Since it's free to enter, it's an easy addition to your itinerary.

If you go to Bari for the first time you cannot miss the religious monument that is the symbol of the city: the basilica, which houses the relics of St. Nicholas. In the heart of the old city, this basilica stands imposingly as the prototype of the Romanesque-Apulian style. It is located five minutes from the port and fifteen minutes from the train station. The external appearance of the church makes it resemble a castle or a fortress. The white color of the stone, made even lighter by the sun, gives a sensation of immensity. It is not a church built from scratch, but a temple built on the area of the palace of Catapano (the Greek-Byzantine governor of Southern Italy, stationed in Bari between 968 and 1071) and therefore with substantial reuse of material from the previous building. On 9 May 1087 the relics of St. Nicholas of Myra (now Türkiye) arrived in Bari, thanks to 62 sailors. It is the height of the Middle Ages and the fact of preserving the relics of a saint, renowned throughout the world, gives the city that houses and protects them immense fame. The Turkish saint, greatly venerated by seafarers, was bishop of Mira in 325 AD, when he took part in the Council of Nicaea. What strikes the visitor is both the artistic style (inside there are sculptures, paintings, a crypt shared with the Orthodox), its history, faith (remaining in prayer in front of the saint's tomb), and its ecumenical vocation (let's not forget that Saint Nicholas is the saint most venerated by the Orthodox, especially in Russia). The Basilica has an imposing façade and a Latin cross plan. The frontage is characterized by a central portal surmounted by a rose window which is the fusion of Romanesque and Byzantine elements. Inside, visitors can admire frescoes and sculptures that narrate the life and works of St Nicholas. The ceiling, beautifully carved and gilded, has seventeenth-century paintings made by Carlo Rosa, which ate authentic masterpieces. Among the most valuable works are the Chair of Abbot Elias, richly decorated with finely crafted sculptures, the oldest ciborium in Puglia, the triptych by Andrea Rico da Candia, the medieval capitals with intricate narrative reliefs and the silver altar dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Particularly noteworthy is the sixteenth-century funerary monument of Bona Sforza, queen of Poland and duchess of Bari. In the crypt we find the holy relics. It is a place that attracts also the faithful of the Orthodox Christian Church, who celebrate their liturgies. Highly revommended.