Basilica di San Nicola (Bari)

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The Basilica of San Nicola by night.

The Cathedra of Bishop Elias.

The Basilica of San Nicola (St. Nicholas) is a church in Bari, southern Italy, and holding wide religious significance throughout Europe and the Christian world.

The basilica^[1] is an important pilgrimage destination both for Italians and Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe.

The basilica was built between 1087 and 1197, during the Norman domination of Apulia, the area previously occupied by the Byzantine catapan of which Bari was the seat of rule. Its foundation is related to the stealing of the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra, in what is now Turkey, by some Barese sailors. According to legend, the saint, passing by the city on his way to Rome, had chosen Bari as his burial place. Pope Urban II came to the city to consecrate the crypt in 1089. Elias, abbot of the nearby monastery of St. Benedict, was named as first archbishop. The edifice was officially consecrated in 1197, in the presence of the Imperial Vicar, Bishop Conrad of Hildesheim, and of numerous bishops, prelates and noblemen.

1 Overview
- 1.1 Architecture
- 1.2 Treasures
2 Notes
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Overview

[edit] Architecture

The church has a rather square appearance, seemingly more suited to a castle than to a church. This impression is strengthened by the presence of two low massive towers framing the façade. It was indeed used several times as castle during its history.

The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by granite columns and pilasters. The presbytery area is separated from the rest of the edifice by mean of three arches supported by columns of Byzantine influence. Above the aisles is the matronaeum, a tribune gallery for women, opening into the nave. The basilica was the first church of this design, setting a standard which was later imitated in numerous other constructions in the region.

[edit] Treasures

The Basilica houses one of the most noteworthy Romanesque sculptural works of southern Italy, a cathedra (bishop's throne) finished in the late 11th century for Elias. There are precious mosaic pavements in the crypt and presbytery. The ciborium, the most ancient in the region, is also decorated with mosaic; it has four columns with foliage, animals and mythological figures. The crypt, with 26 columns sporting capitals in Byzantine and Romanesque style, houses the relics of St. Nicholas.

In the church is the Renaissance tomb of Bona Sforza, (16th century), in marble. The museum of the Basilica has precious artworks, including a collection of 12th century candle holders donated by King Charles I of Anjou.

The church was restored in the late 13th century, in 1456 and in the 17th century. In the 20th century restoration, most of the Baroque additions were removed, only the gilt wooden ceiling, with canvases by Carlo De Rosa, remaining.

[edit] Notes

^ Despite what commonly thought, San Nicola is not the cathedral of Bari. The similar, and slightly later, church of St. Sabinus holding currently this status.