Basilica di San Nicola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of Saint NicholasBasilica di San Nicola |
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Side view with statue of St. Nicholas
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Pontifical minor basilica |
| Year consecrated | 1197 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Bari, Italy |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1089 |
| Completed | 1197 |
The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is a very important church in Bari, a city in southern Italy. It holds great religious meaning for many people across Europe and the Christian world. This basilica is a popular place for pilgrimage (a special religious journey) for both Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
Contents
History of the Basilica
The Basilica was built between 1087 and 1197. This was during a time when the Italo-Normans ruled the Apulia region of Italy. Bari was an important city in this area.
The church was built to keep some special relics (holy objects) of Saint Nicholas. These relics were brought from his original shrine in Myra, which is now in Turkey. When Myra came under the control of the Saracens (Muslims), some people thought it was a good idea to move the saint's relics to a safer place.
According to a legend, Saint Nicholas himself had chosen Bari as his burial place when he passed through the city on his way to Rome. There was a big competition between Venice and Bari to get the relics. Bari won! The relics were taken from their Greek guardians and their Muslim rulers. On May 9, 1087, they arrived safely in Bari.
A new church was quickly started to protect Nicholas's remains. Pope Urban II was even there when the crypt (an underground room) was blessed in 1089. The entire building was officially blessed in 1197. Many important people, like bishops and noblemen, were there for the event. Elias, a leader from a nearby monastery, became the first archbishop. His special bishop's throne, called a cathedra, is still in the church today.
Architecture of the Building
The church looks quite square and strong, almost like a castle. This feeling is made even stronger by the two short, thick towers on the front. In fact, it was used as a castle many times throughout its history.
Inside, the church has a main area called a nave and two side areas called aisles. These are separated by columns made of granite. The presbytery, which is the area around the altar, is separated by three arches. These arches are supported by columns that show Byzantine influences.
Above the aisles, there is a special upper gallery called a matronaeum. This gallery was traditionally for women and opens into the main nave. The Basilica of Saint Nicholas was the first church to be built with this design. Many other churches in the region later copied its style.
In 2012, scientists used special tools like ground-penetrating radar to study the church. They found that there might be some water getting into two areas of the crypt that were fixed in the 1950s. This could be due to too much humidity.
Treasures Inside
The Basilica is home to some amazing Romanesque artworks from southern Italy. One of the most famous is the cathedra (bishop's throne) that was made for Bishop Elias in the late 11th century.
You can also see beautiful mosaic floors in the crypt and the presbytery. The ciborium, which is a canopy over the altar, is the oldest in the region. It is also decorated with mosaics and has four columns with designs of plants, animals, and mythical creatures. The crypt has 26 columns with unique tops (capitals) in both Byzantine and Romanesque styles. This is where the relics of Saint Nicholas are kept.
Inside the church, there is also a 16th-century tomb made of marble for Bona Sforza, who was the Queen of Poland. The Basilica also has a museum with valuable art, including a collection of candelabras from the 12th century. These were given to the church by King Charles I of Anjou.
The church has been restored several times over the centuries. In the 20th century, many of the later Baroque additions were removed. Only the beautiful gilded wooden ceiling, which holds paintings by Carlo De Rosa, was kept.
Feast Days and Pilgrimages
December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day, which is the main celebration day for Saint Nicholas. On this day, the church clergy traditionally lower a flask into Saint Nicholas's underground tomb. They collect some of the special liquid called myrrh, which is believed to come from the relics. Small containers of this myrrh are sent all over the world. Many believers have said that miracles happened after they were anointed (touched) with it.
Some Orthodox Churches follow an older calendar called the Julian Calendar. For them, December 6 falls on December 19 of the Gregorian Calendar (the one most people use today). So, there are actually two celebrations of Saint Nicholas Day in Bari: one on December 6 and another on December 19. Both are celebrated with great importance.
May 9 (or May 22 on the Julian Calendar) is another important day. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates it as the day the relics of Saint Nicholas were moved from Myra to Bari.
Many pilgrims from Eastern Europe have visited the Basilica since the fall of the Iron Curtain. They come not just for the feast days, but throughout the entire year.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de San Nicolás (Bari) para niños
- Main sights in Bari
- Cathedral of Acquaviva delle Fonti
- Cathedral of Altamura
- Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo
- St. Nicholas Church, Demre
