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Basilica San Nicola

Basilica San Nicola: Our most recommended tours and activities

Bari: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

1. Bari: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

Get to know Bari at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. After downloading the scavenger hunt tour on your mobile device (via a link and login credentials received upon booking), use the mobile app and integrated maps to reach 10 of Bari’s most important attractions on foot. Start the activity whenever you like and enjoy the flexibility to pause your game at any time to take a break, snap the perfect photos, stop for lunch, or visit a museum. Choose to continue the tour later or save the rest for another day. In the history-filled city of Bari you will first visit the beautiful Giardini di Piazza Umberto I. Then the unique Teatro Petruzzelli and then the irreplaceable Museo Teatro Margherita. This wonderful route continues to the Piazza del Ferrarese. As a fifth stop you will find the Il Fortino di Sant'Antonio. As you continue your walk through the city you will find the interesting Piazza Mercantile. Of course, the Basilica San Nicola could not be missing from this tour. In addition, you will also admire the Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino. The penultimate destination is the enviable Castello svevo di Bari. While the icing on the cake of this unique tour could not be other than the Large Albicocca Piazza.

Bari: St. Nicholas Basilica and Crypt Guided Tour

2. Bari: St. Nicholas Basilica and Crypt Guided Tour

Visit the St. Nicholas Basilica in Bari, an important pilgrimage destination. Admire the sculptures above the entrance and then step inside to witness the amazing art on the ceiling, which is adorned with paintings. Follow your guide to the underground crypt that houses the relics of Saint Nicholas. Start outside and see the wide limestone facade decorated with many ornamental details, including the sculptures above the Portal of the Lions. Then, go inside the church and observe the granite columns as you walk under the arches which separate the presbytery from the rest of the church. Next, admire the carved and gilded ceiling, decorated with 17th-century paintings. Afterward, descend to the crypt, an underground church that contains the relics of Saint Nicholas, whose remains rest here. This crypt inspired the legend of a Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus on the cross.

Bari: Alleys of the Ancient Village Exploration Tour

3. Bari: Alleys of the Ancient Village Exploration Tour

Discover the highlights of Bari. Walk through the most famous squares until you reach the Cattedrale di San Sabino. Follow your expert guide and let yourself be amazed by the city's lesser told stories. Learn about the history and architecture of the Basilica di San Nicola. Relive the history and discover the devotion that links the people of Bari to their Patron Saint. Meet in front of the archaeological site of Piazza del Ferrarese to begin the tour of Bari's most emblematic places. Start from this square, known in the past as Piazzetta d'Armi, and then continue to other important spots of the city, such as Piazza Mercantile, the old gateway to the ancient village of Bari, or to the so-called Bari Vecchia. Walk through the narrow alleys of the old town until reaching the Cattedrale di San Sabino, the oldest church in Bari. Here, admire its beautiful white façade and discover all its secrets together with your guide. The next stop will be the marvelous Basilica di San Nicola. Hear about the architecture and the compelling story connecting it to the most beloved Saint in Bari.

Bari: Private Food and Walking Tour

4. Bari: Private Food and Walking Tour

Experience a wonderful walking and tasting tour in one of the most pictoresque cities of Puglia, the capital Bari! Explore the hidden corners of the old town with an expert guide and taste the flavours of local food tradition. Visit the most famous places of Bari, such as Piazza dei Mercanti, Piazza del Ferrarese, the Basilica of San Nicola, the Cathedral of San Sabino and many other hidden treasures Between one stop and the next you will taste authentic Bari specialties such as: "Focaccia" (soft leavened bread with raw tomato on top), "Panzerotto" (deep fried pizza rool, stuffed with tomato and mozzarella or delicious combinations of ingredients) and a lunch based on traditional recipes, made by an expert local lady. Along the way you will see how famous orecchiette are made! Every day the local ladies make kilos of handmade pasta, with quick movements of their expert hands, as fast as machines! And of course, you won't leave Bari Vecchia without tasting them!

Bari: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

5. Bari: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

Walk through a beautiful route of the city, discover hidden gems and visit 10+ of the most important attractions and spots. Learn some introductory information about each place and interesting stories about the city in general. Download the ‘World City Trail ‘app from the store and login. Read the instructions and head to the starting location. Unlock photos of the exterior and the interior of the location. Read some information regarding the attraction and continue walking to the next checkpoint. Note what you liked and did not like and create your bucket list for the next days! Start your walk any time, without a schedule. Pause it for lunch, have a drink, visit an attraction of your choice, and continue later or even another day. With the maps feature, you will never get lost. In the history-filled city of Bari you will first visit the beautiful Giardini di Piazza Umberto I. Then the unique Teatro Petruzzelli and then the irreplaceable Museo Teatro Margherita. This wonderful route continues to the Piazza del Ferrarese. As a fifth stop you will find the Il Fortino di Sant'Antonio. As you continue your walk through the city you will find the interesting Piazza Mercantile. Of course, the Basilica San Nicola could not be missing from this tour. In addition, you will also admire the Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino. The penultimate destination is the enviable Castello svevo di Bari. While the icing on the cake of this unique tour could not be other than the Large Albicocca Piazza.

Audio-video guide of Bari

6. Audio-video guide of Bari

Bari3d offers a customised tourist experience for visitors to the city of Bari. You will find five tours in four different languages: Italian, German, English and French. Travellers will have the opportunity to explore the city's main monuments through video explanations accompanied by graphic animations and 3D models. All from the comfort of their own smartphone. This innovative technology will take visitors into the heart of Bari's history and architecture, creating an immersive and engaging experience. The Basilica di San Nicola in Bari is an important church dedicated to St Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus. Built in the 11th-12th century, it is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture. Its imposing façade and the frescoes inside attract visitors from all over the world. The crypt houses the Saint's remains and is a place of great veneration. The basilica is an important centre of pilgrimage and organises the traditional St Nicholas procession. It is an interesting tourist destination that combines history, spirituality and culture. The Cathedral of San Sabino is a remarkable religious building located in Bari, Apulia, Italy. Built in the 12th century, it is a Romanesque church of great importance in the region. The imposing façade combines elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Inside, the cathedral has a nave and two side aisles, with valuable works of art and decorations. The crypt houses the relics of St. Sabinus and is a place of great devotion. The cathedral is famous for its religious celebrations. Its medieval architecture and religious importance make it a popular tourist destination. The Castle of Bari, also known as Castello Svevo, is a mighty fortress located on the coast of Bari, Apulia, Italy. Built in the 12th century, it is characterised by thick walls and angular towers. It has been used as a defence and royal residence over the centuries. Today it is a popular tourist attraction, offering tours of its halls, courtyards and towers, as well as hosting cultural events. The castle represents an important historical and architectural heritage, fascinating visitors with its majesty and history. Apulian gastronomy is characterised by a simple and genuine cuisine. Typical dishes include orecchietta, a pasta served with tomato sauce and turnip tops, fava beans and chicory and a combination of rice, potatoes and fresh mussels. The region is also renowned for its fish and seafood dishes, such as baccalà alla pugliese and fish balls. Traditional baked goods include focaccia pugliese and taralli. Puglia, a region located in the south-east of Italy, offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Due to its geographical position, Puglia is washed by two seas, the Adriatic Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south, which offer a variety of white sandy beaches, spectacular cliffs and crystal-clear waters.

Bari: Guided Walking Tour with Local Products Tasting

7. Bari: Guided Walking Tour with Local Products Tasting

• The tour winds through the alleys of the historic center (Bari vecchia), through streets where women cleverly knead the mass to create the famous orecchiette and legends that speak of superstition and faith; • The tour will have as focal points three symbols of the city: the Swabian Castle of Bari, the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola, all completed by a walk on the Wall to discover some of the most photographed places in Bari; • The guided tour ends in Piazza del Ferrarese with explanation of the Borgo Murattiano and free time for shopping.

Bari: City Highlights Private Tour with a Guide

8. Bari: City Highlights Private Tour with a Guide

Bari is an elegant white town on the Adriatic sea, it combines both a sophsticated atmosphere of South Italy and the simplicity of a small provincial area. Bari is a total dominion of San Nicola. If you are not a believer and only a connoseur, San Nicola involves you in the Magic world of miracles. Every barese (this's how the locals are named) tells you a story about a fantastic appearance of San Nicola in case of necessity, fulfilling a miracle as saving from death, hunger, disease, providing spiritual help in hopeless situations. You experience this overwhelming energy of San Nicola. But the story of San Nicola in Bari starts in 1087, when the city, once prosperious and powerful, became a degrading corner long the Adriatic Coast. The only creative solution to come out from the heavy financial crises was to steel the tomb and the treasures of San Nicola from Myra. Any modern scenario seems to be weak in comparison with the advantures of San Nicola. As a result, San Nicola brought from Myra without any permission or blessing dropped the anchor in Bari where the happy crowd was waiting for him eagily. Through it was a top secret mission, everyone was aware of San Nicola's arrival: bishops, priests, politicians, merchants, travellers, curious, beggars... Now San Nicola is everywhere and thanks to him, Bari breathes miracles.

Other Sightseeing Options in Basilica San Nicola

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What people are saying about Basilica San Nicola

Overall rating

5.0 / 5

based on 5 reviews

If you're into history, it's a good experience, the guide was a historian, so you got full value for money.

Francesca is a guide with a great cultural background, we liked her a lot, time has flown!