Advertisement
Basilica San Nicola

Basilica San Nicola

Basilica San Nicola
4.5
Religious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • BrakiWorldTraveler
    Belgrade, Serbia20,004 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pilgrimage Church
    Basilica of San Nicola was on top of my list in Bari and the very first thing we've visited in this port city. St. Nicholas is my mother's family Patron Saint so it was a pilgrimage visit to pay our respects. The Basilica is set in the old town, built in a Norman Romanesque style as early as 11c. The Piazza in front is rather small compared to huge Church, so it's pretty difficult to capture it. There's a monument on it dedicated to St. Nicholas - the Miracle maker. Interiors are huge with big columns and uneven arches with wood/gold decorated ceiling and beautiful altar. Downstairs in the crypt are the Saint's relics with his remains. Free entry.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written October 14, 2023
  • alillabo
    Budapest, Hungary55 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Admire the beautiful ceiling
    Visiting the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola in Bari was a truly awe-inspiring experience. This historic basilica is free to enter, making it an accessible and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area. One of the first things you'll notice is the stunning ceiling. The intricate designs and artwork are a visual delight, adding to the overall beauty and grandeur of the basilica. What makes this site even more incredible is its history. The fact that it was built nearly 1000 years ago is simply amazing. The sense of history and reverence within its walls is palpable, providing a profound connection to the past. Overall, the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola is a must-visit for its historical significance, architectural beauty, and serene atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Bari. **Pro Tips:** - Take some time to sit and admire the detailed ceiling. - Appreciate the historical significance of the basilica, built nearly a millennium ago. - Since it's free to enter, it's an easy addition to your itinerary.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 2, 2024
  • dapper777
    Monaco67,230 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is the symbol of the city. Highly recommended.
    If you go to Bari for the first time you cannot miss the religious monument that is the symbol of the city: the basilica, which houses the relics of St. Nicholas. In the heart of the old city, this basilica stands imposingly as the prototype of the Romanesque-Apulian style. It is located five minutes from the port and fifteen minutes from the train station. The external appearance of the church makes it resemble a castle or a fortress. The white color of the stone, made even lighter by the sun, gives a sensation of immensity. It is not a church built from scratch, but a temple built on the area of the palace of Catapano (the Greek-Byzantine governor of Southern Italy, stationed in Bari between 968 and 1071) and therefore with substantial reuse of material from the previous building. On 9 May 1087 the relics of St. Nicholas of Myra (now Türkiye) arrived in Bari, thanks to 62 sailors. It is the height of the Middle Ages and the fact of preserving the relics of a saint, renowned throughout the world, gives the city that houses and protects them immense fame. The Turkish saint, greatly venerated by seafarers, was bishop of Mira in 325 AD, when he took part in the Council of Nicaea. What strikes the visitor is both the artistic style (inside there are sculptures, paintings, a crypt shared with the Orthodox), its history, faith (remaining in prayer in front of the saint's tomb), and its ecumenical vocation (let's not forget that Saint Nicholas is the saint most venerated by the Orthodox, especially in Russia). The Basilica has an imposing façade and a Latin cross plan. The frontage is characterized by a central portal surmounted by a rose window which is the fusion of Romanesque and Byzantine elements. Inside, visitors can admire frescoes and sculptures that narrate the life and works of St Nicholas. The ceiling, beautifully carved and gilded, has seventeenth-century paintings made by Carlo Rosa, which ate authentic masterpieces. Among the most valuable works are the Chair of Abbot Elias, richly decorated with finely crafted sculptures, the oldest ciborium in Puglia, the triptych by Andrea Rico da Candia, the medieval capitals with intricate narrative reliefs and the silver altar dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Particularly noteworthy is the sixteenth-century funerary monument of Bona Sforza, queen of Poland and duchess of Bari. In the crypt we find the holy relics. It is a place that attracts also the faithful of the Orthodox Christian Church, who celebrate their liturgies. Highly revommended.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,545 reviews
Excellent
3,306
Very good
1,064
Average
153
Poor
8
Terrible
14

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Mira V
Smarje Pri Jelsah, Slovenia344 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
Bari is a busy port by the Adriatic shore. The old part of the town is very interesting, with narrow winding streets like most old town centres in southern Italy. The basilica of St. Nicholas is a must see as St. Nicholas is a very popular saint. Outside, the basilica is somewhat different in shape if compared to churches in general, it does not look like a typical church. Inside, there is a row of white arches under the ceiling, the bishop's throne is also attractive. The figure of St. Nicholas inside the basilica was not very appealing to me, the statue outside is much more elegant. The most interesting part of the basilica is the crypt with the saint's tomb containing relics of the saint's body. The crypt also contains a pillar which once used to stand in the middle of the place and a legend says it helped women to find husbands (with the help of St. Nicholas) if they circled around the pillar. Evidently, the pillar attracted too much attention and is now standing in the corner, protected with an iron grid. Try walking around it if you can!
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JohnRegoPark
Rego Park, NY1,278 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
A trip to Bari is not complete unless you visit Saint Nicholas in the basilica named after him. The austere and monumental facade leads us through the huge, spacious, well-lit and fortified interior done in the Romanesque style. This is not your Pisa Romanesque, but a bare bones kind of building that expresses majesty. After viewing the interior, walk downstairs to see the crypt of Saint Nicholas. You not entering a Santa Claus--American style Saint Nicholas, but a true religious figure treated with dignity and respect. This is an awesome experience.
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jesmond S
Pembroke, Malta140 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
This basilica is more than 800 years old and the its magnificent architecture attests to the type of buildings that were built at that time - Romanesque in style - majestic and in a way simple. The ceiling is quite elaborately designed. It is definitely worth visiting.
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

duhoz
Beroun, Czech Republic7,526 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
The crypt of the Basilica house the relics of St Nicolas or also know as Father Christmas. The crypt with 26 columns built in Byzantine and Romanesque style.
The basilica was built between 1087 and 1197, I enjoyed very dominant gold wooden ceiling from 17th Century, spectacular columns.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alillabo
Budapest, Hungary55 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
Visiting the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola in Bari was a truly awe-inspiring experience. This historic basilica is free to enter, making it an accessible and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

One of the first things you'll notice is the stunning ceiling. The intricate designs and artwork are a visual delight, adding to the overall beauty and grandeur of the basilica.

What makes this site even more incredible is its history. The fact that it was built nearly 1000 years ago is simply amazing. The sense of history and reverence within its walls is palpable, providing a profound connection to the past.

Overall, the Basilica Pontificia San Nicola is a must-visit for its historical significance, architectural beauty, and serene atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Bari.

**Pro Tips:**
- Take some time to sit and admire the detailed ceiling.
- Appreciate the historical significance of the basilica, built nearly a millennium ago.
- Since it's free to enter, it's an easy addition to your itinerary.
Written August 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RicherTrips
Monterrey, Mexico4,589 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
The plaza in front allows beautiful pictures, and among them the saint’s sculpture.

As the cathedral, the Romanesque style had reach its peak, with high, open spaces. The Baroque cieling, even as beautiful as it is, looks out of place in this 12 C building.

The crypt shouldn’t be missed. When we went, the saint’s tomb was closed to the public, but the Byzantine icon and the columns are worth the visit. Notice the different capitals on each column.
Written January 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michelangelo L
Foggia, Italy7,643 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
Built between the end of 1000/1100 in Apulian Romanesque style. Symbol of worship for Catholics and Orthodox. It was built to house the relics of Saint Nicholas.
The church has three naves entirely in Trani stone. Three sixteenth-century arches were added to prevent the collapse of the church. The crypt preserves the relics of the Saint. Do not miss the chair of Abbot Elijah and the ciborium before 1150. In addition, the painting of the Madonna and Child Enthroned in 1476 is a masterpiece of the time, unfortunately observed from a considerable distance. Beautiful but not visitable the matrony with three-light windows. The ceiling is carved and gilded with paintings from 1600.
Automatically translated
Written November 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thomaslegner
Vienna, Austria287 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
The Basilica is a wonderful example of Italo-Norman architecture. Whilst the largest part of the church is built in the Romanesque style, the ceiling is a wonderful baroque masterpiece, a striking contrast. Definitely worth a visit.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AMsays
Thornhill, Canada4,905 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
This basilica founded in 1087 in part to receive St Nicholas’ relics from Myra (Byzantium). The saint became entrenched in Bari and brought with him pilgrims good for the economy. Born in Asia Minor (Greece) he became known as the Wonderworker for all the miracles attributed to him. He rests in a tomb here and some Christmas traditions are attributed to him. The basilica is simple both in and out. Look up. The ceiling is unusually decorated in wood and gold. Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians make pilgrimages here. This is a busy yet happy location with lots to see and do around the basilica.
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MFaro
Italy2,814 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
The Papal Basilica of San Nicola is a landmark in the historic center of the Apulian city. Built after the year 1000, it is in Apulian Romanesque style, simple inside while displaying majesty. The interior is very beautiful divided into three naves, note the ceiling carved with paintings. The crypt which contains the relics of the Saint is particular and often crowded.
Google
Written April 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 715
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Basilica San Nicola (Bari, Italy): Hours, Address, Attraction Reviews - Tripadvisor

All Bari HotelsBari Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Bari
All things to do in Bari
Day Trips in Bari
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars