Basilica
San Nicola
The Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari was built in the late 11th century to house the relics of St. Nicholas, brought from Myra (modern-day Turkey) in 1087. Located within the ancient citadel, once home to the Catapan Court, the Romanesque basilica is part of a larger complex including the Church of San Gregorio, a convent, library and archives, study center, and museum. Abbot Elias began construction of the crypt in 1087, completed and consecrated in 1089. The basilica itself was consecrated in 1197 under his successor, Abbot Eustace.
Major 20th-century restorations gave the basilica its present form. The limestone façade, flanked by two towers, features ornate portals with symbolic carvings, including a central portal representing Christ’s triumph over paganism. The interior follows a Latin Tau-cross plan with three naves, divided by columns, and a richly decorated wooden ceiling with paintings by Carlo Rosa. The high altar is crowned by Apulia’s oldest ciborium (12th century), behind which stands “Elias’s Cathedra,” a marble bishop’s throne with Kufic script, reflecting the site's multicultural influences.
The crypt holds St. Nicholas’s relics and features both Catholic and Orthodox altars—an ecumenical rarity. It remains a major pilgrimage site, especially for Orthodox Christians. Artworks include Bona Sforza’s tomb, the Silver Altar, and altarpieces by Vivarini and Andrea Rico.