Bari

Мощи Святителя Николая — второе паломническое место Николая после Демре

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Значение этого места

Базилика Сан-Никола в Бари хранит с 1087 года мощи Святителя Николая, вывезенные 62 барийскими моряками из Миры. Крипта — место тихой молитвы, ежедневно посещаемое православными, католическими и протестантскими паломниками.

Историческая справка

On 9 May 1087, 62 Bari sailors arrived at Myra (modern Demre, Turkey) during the Seljuk advance into Anatolia and took approximately 75 percent of the relics of Saint Nicholas. They brought them to Bari, where Pope Urban II consecrated the crypt of the newly built Basilica di San Nicola in 1089. The translation was both a rescue — protecting the relics from the advancing conquest — and an act of civic pride: Bari wanted a patron saint of the first rank to rival Venice's possession of Saint Mark.

The basilica, built between 1087 and 1197, is one of the great Romanesque churches of Italy. Its exterior is adorned with carved sailors and ships commemorating the 1087 voyage. The crypt, with its forest of 26 marble columns, houses the tomb beneath the main altar and has been a destination of pilgrimage for Catholic and Orthodox Christians for over 900 years.

The ecumenical dimension of Bari was formalised in 1966 when an Orthodox chapel was established in the crypt. Since then, daily Orthodox Divine Liturgies (Russian, Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian) have been celebrated alongside Catholic Masses. Pope Francis convened a Middle East peace summit of Christian patriarchs at Bari in 2018, cementing the basilica's role as one of Christianity's great ecumenical crossroads. In November 2025, Pope Leo XIV visited Bari as part of his wider Nicaea anniversary pilgrimage.

Ключевые места для посещения

All traditionsbasilica

Basilica di San Nicola

Romanesque basilica 1087-1197. Crypt with the tomb and the Orthodox chapel; bishop's throne of Elia; sailor carvings on the exterior commemorating the 1087 translation.

Catholiccathedral

Bari Cathedral

11th-century Romanesque cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bari.

All traditionsold-town

Bari Vecchia

Atmospheric old town wrapped around the basilica, famous for its open-air orecchiette pasta makers.

All traditionscastle

Castello Svevo

Norman-Swabian castle (12th-13th c.).

All traditionsseafront

Lungomare

The seafront promenade that hosts the May 7 maritime procession.

Лучшее время для посещения

Апрель–июнь и сентябрь–октябрь. 9 мая (перенесение мощей) — важнейший праздник.

Ключевые праздники

  • 6 December - Universal feast of Saint Nicholas
  • 7-9 May - Translation Festival (Bari Translation feast)
  • 22 May - May 9 Gregorian = May 22 for Old Calendar (Julian) Orthodox

Как добраться

Аэропорт Бари (BRI). Хорошая железнодорожная связь (из Рима: 3,5 ч. скоростным поездом).

Климат по месяцам

MonthAvg HighAvg LowRainfallCrowds
Jan12°C5°CMediumLow
Feb13°C5°CMediumLow
Mar15°C7°CMediumLow
Apr18°C10°CMediumMedium
May23°C14°CLowVery High (May 7-9)
Jun28°C18°CVery LowMedium
Jul31°C21°CVery LowMedium
Aug31°C21°CLowMedium
Sep27°C18°CMediumMedium
Oct22°C14°CMediumMedium
Nov17°C10°CHighLow
Dec13°C6°CHighHigh (Dec 6 feast)

Где остановиться

Старый город (Читта Веккья) для близости к базилике. Широкий выбор отелей в новой части.

TierExamplesPrice RangeBest For
BudgetBari Vecchia B&Bs, guesthouses near the basilica40-70 EUR/nightAtmospheric pilgrim stays in the old town
Mid-RangeMurat district hotels (Hotel Oriente, iH Hotels Bari)80-130 EUR/nightModern comfort near the station and seafront
PremiumGrande Albergo delle Nazioni, seafront hotels on Lungomare150-300 EUR/nightLuxury pilgrimage with sea views

Экскурсии и паломнические туры

Организованные туры по базилике с криптой. В сочетании с Альберобелло, Матерой и Лечче.

Practical information

Hours
Basilica generally 07:00-20:30 daily; crypt similar.
Fees
Free entry. Manna vials available in the basilica shop (small donation).
Dress code
Shoulders and knees covered. Women traditionally cover their hair in the crypt.
Accessibility
Basilica largely accessible; the crypt requires a stair descent.

Советы паломникам

💡 Советы паломникам

  • The crypt is the spiritual heart of the basilica — spend time in silence before the tomb before taking photos or buying manna vials.
  • If visiting for the May 7-9 Translation Festival, book accommodation 6+ months ahead — Bari fills completely with Russian, Greek, and Italian pilgrims.
  • Attend both a Catholic Mass and an Orthodox Divine Liturgy in the crypt — the experience of two traditions worshipping at the same tomb is unique in Christianity.
  • Women should carry a scarf for the crypt — hair covering is traditional out of respect for Orthodox custom, though not strictly required.
  • Combine Bari with a day trip to Monte Sant'Angelo (Sanctuary of Saint Michael, UNESCO) and San Giovanni Rotondo (Padre Pio) — both are under 2 hours by car.
  • Manna vials are available in the basilica shop for a small donation — they make a meaningful gift for fellow pilgrims who cannot travel to Bari.

Знаете ли вы?

ℹ️ Знаете ли вы?

  • The 'manna of Saint Nicholas' is a clear, odourless liquid that has continuously formed in the saint's tomb since antiquity — scientists have not determined its source, and the Church treats it as a miraculous phenomenon.
  • The 1953-57 scientific examination of the relics by Prof. Luigi Martino was commissioned by the Vatican and confirmed the remains belong to a man aged 72-80, exactly matching Nicholas's recorded age at death.
  • The exterior of the basilica is decorated with carved stone sailors and ships — a permanent memorial to the 62 Bari sailors who brought the relics from Myra in 1087.
  • Bari's crypt is one of the very few places in the world where Catholic Mass and Orthodox Divine Liturgy are celebrated daily at the same tomb — a living symbol of the 1965 mutual nullification of the 1054 excommunications.

Рекомендуемая литература

Title / ReferenceWhy it matters
The Life and Miracles of Saint NicholasMedieval Greek and Latin hagiographies of the saint whose relics rest at Bari.
Charles W. Jones, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan (1978)The definitive scholarly study of the Nicholas cult and the 1087 translation.
The 1953-57 Bari Relic Examination (Prof. Luigi Martino)Scientific analysis confirming the remains as those of an elderly man (72-80 years), consistent with Nicholas.

Nearby destinations to combine

Rome

The See of Peter and the four Papal Basilicas

Frecciarossa 4 hoursFour Papal Basilicas, Vatican and Catacombs

Assisi

Saint Francis, Saint Clare and Carlo Acutis

~5 hours by train/carSaint Francis, Saint Clare and Carlo Acutis

Demre / Myra

Tomb of Saint Nicholas in 5th-century Byzantine Myra

Flight to Antalya + 2.5h driveOriginal tomb and 5th-century Byzantine basilica

Включено в маршруты

  • Nicholas of Myra Patara - Demre - Bari: the millennium pilgrimage of Saint Nicholas

Frequently asked questions

9 мая (перенесение мощей, 1087) — главный праздник с торжественной мессой, процессией и световым шоу в порту. 6 декабря (день памяти) также значим. Русский православный монастырь в базилике совершает православную литургию 9 мая.

Names in other languages

ItalianBasilica di San Nicola
GermanBasilika San Nicola
FrenchBasilique Saint-Nicolas
RussianBazilika Svyatogo Nikolaya v Bari
GreekAgios Nikolaos Bari
TurkishBari'deki Aziz Nikolaos