Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Basilica di San Nicola di Bari

Basilica di San Nicola di Bari

Largo Abate Elia 13, 70122 Bari

RELIGIONS Catholic

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The Basilica of San Nicola was built at the end of the eleventh century in Romanesque style to preserve the relics of St. Nicholas, transferred by 62 sailors to Bari from the town of Myra, in Lycia, and arrived in Bari on May 9, 1087. The relics were temporarily housed in the monastery of St. Benedict, and on 1 October 1089 they were transferred to the crypt of the basilica by Pope Urban II, who had come to Bari specifically. The construction of the basilica ended in 1103; it is one of the most important monuments of Romanesque architecture in Europe, and houses numerous works of art from the 12th and 13th centuries.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
From a historical point of view, the tomb of St. Nicholas has always been a centre of attraction and worship for the whole Mediterranean area, but also for Eastern Europe, where the cult of St. Nicholas has always been very lively.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
St. Nicholas, a bishop of Turkish origin, is a saint of the undivided Church, greatly revered by both Catholics and Orthodox. The basilica is an inter-religious place of worship, since in the crypt where the relics of the saint are kept, an area is reserved to the Orthodox worship.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
The city of Bari has been the destination for almost a thousand years of a continuous pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Nicholas, which has always attracted many people of different nationalities and religious confessions. The Basilica is therefore a place for interreligious meeting and dialogue
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
- Organize a direct visit to the site
- Conduct a research activity on the transformation of the image of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus
- Deepen the study of Orthodox culture
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.