Basilica of Saint Nicholas

Here stands the emblem of Bari and one of the most important monuments in Mediterranean Christianity: the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. Before entering, take a moment to admire the main portal. On each side, the columns don't rest on the ground but on the backs of oxen sculpted in stone. According to popular legend, when the sailors of Bari brought Saint Nicholas’ relics back to the port in 1087, they loaded the bones onto a cart pulled by oxen to transport them into the city. The oxen moved on their own, without being guided, and stopped spontaneously in front of a small Benedictine church, where the basilica now stands. This was seen as the saint’s will in choosing his final resting place. In remembrance, the oxen were sculpted for eternity at the entrance of the sanctuary they had designated. But how did these relics end up in Bari? When Myra, a city in present-day Turkey, fell to the Seljuk Turks, sixty-two sailors from Bari took advantage of the chaos to break into the saint’s tomb. In 1087, they opened the tomb and took his bones. On May 9, the relics were brought into the harbor of Bari, greeted with celebrations from the entire city. Two years later, Pope Urban II consecrated the crypt. As for the Turkish reprisals, there were none. The guardian monks were bound but freed unharmed, and the newly arrived Seljuk Turks neither had the resources nor the interest to pursue Christian sailors across the Adriatic Sea. In the crypt, you can view the saint’s relics, placed under a silver altar. Here, a mystery has puzzled visitors for centuries. Every year, a small amount of clear water flows from the tomb. This is the manna, believed by the faithful to be miraculous. In 1925, the University of Bari analyzed the liquid: it’s almost pure water, with no sign of external infiltration, as the sarcophagus is sealed. The most likely explanation is biological condensation: the ancient bones, in their sealed vault, slowly release the last traces of organic moisture they contain. A very rare phenomenon, which you can witness every May 9. And good news for your visit: entrance is completely free, every day from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. By the way, as you exit the Basilica, don’t forget to notice the large bronze silhouette to your right: it’s Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. Created by Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, it was gifted to Bari by Russia in 2003, following a decision by Orthodox Patriarch Alexis II. The saint holds the Book of the Gospels and three golden spheres, as traditionally depicted. This statue represents the importance of this place for both Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims, who come in large numbers to honor the remains of the man who inspired the story of Santa Claus.