Perhaps the main hotspot of Bari tourism is the Basilica di San Nicola, or Saint Nicholas Basilica. It is considered one of the most important, if not the most important, examples of Romanesque architecture in the region of Apulia and it is within walking distance of many of the most important hotels in Bari. It was constructed between the years 1089 and 1197, during the reign of the Normans. According to certain legends, the basilica was built to house the Holy Grail. Indeed, the city of Bari was essentially the port from which many crusaders embarked on their way to the Holy Land and so it was intimately connected with all the legends and stories of the crusades.
Whatever the legends regarding the Grail and the Crusades, the truth is that the church does house the remains of Saint Nicholas, known around the world as Santa Claus. It also houses a number of precious works of art, including one of the most important sculptures of the Apulian Romanesque period, the cathedra. This is essentially a “Bishop’s Seat” constructed in the 11th century and heavily decorated, in certain parts with images of men being crushed by their sins. The interior of the church presents a central nave separated by numerous archways, and a very suggestive crypt. Ask one of the Bari hotels for directions on how to reach the church on foot.