Visit The Basilica Di San Nicola In Bari

The Basilica di San Nicola (or Church of St Nicholas) in Bari, is so beautiful that, once you have found a luxury villa in Puglia you might have been drawn there magnetically anyway. However, the name actually suggests another reason for you to visit this extraordinary building, especially at this time of year. That reason is that the church is dedicated to, and the final resting place of, St. Nicholas of Myra: i.e. Santa Claus. If you're holidaying in Puglia over the Christmas period, it is an absolute must to drop by and pay your respects to the man that has brought such joy to millions of children around the world – maybe don't tell the kids who is buried there, though!

The church was founded in 1089 to shelter the stolen relics of St. Nicolas of Myra and its majestic edifice went on to become the model for later Puglian Romanesque churches. The crypt then became home to the relics. Saint Nicholas was born in Patara around 300 AD, became bishop of Myra (now in what is Turkey), and died there around 350. He is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, travellers and children and many of his legends involve helping young people and the poor. His legend has also been elaborated into the tale of the bearded figure of Father Christmas who brings gifts to children that we are familiar with.

In 1087, a group of sailors stole the relics of St. Nicholas from his original grave in Myra and brought them to Bari where a church was planned to house them. Work began on the basilica in 1089 and it was completed around 1105. Bari then became an important religious centre in the Middle Ages and, in 1098, hosted the Council of Bari. The church is perched in the heart of the Old Town of Bari, overlooking a square and not far from the sea. Its west façade is a large, towering thing, made more imposing by it relatively austere nature.

Inside, the themes of grandness and restraint continue and stairways in the side aisles lead down to the crypt and the relics of St Nicholas.

Supported on 28 columns with carved capitals, with a Byzantine icon donated by the King of Serbia in 1319 and surrounded by silver and gold reliefs from 1684 by Domenico Marinelli and Antonio Avitabili, it is the most ornate part of the building.

If you're visiting Puglia this Christmas, do pop in and say hello to Santa.