The city of Bari is home to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the most revered Christian Saint. In addition, the Old Quarter has remained unchanged. This is one of the largest neighborhoods in Europe that has completely preserved its medieval appearance. Here is located all the most interesting sights of Bari.
The earliest archaeological finds date back to the Bronze age and in the 5th century BC there was already a settlement of the ancient Greeks, surrounded by a fortress wall. After the war with Pyrrhus in the 3rd century BC, the Romans settled here. And after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city was owned first by the Lombards, and then by the Byzantines. From Bari the Byzantine governors managed their possessions in Western Europe. The political and economic status of the city was very high.
After the Byzantines were expelled by the Normans, the importance of the city fell sharply and at this moment the bariyans, following the example of the Venetians, decided to steal (according to the bariyans – "save") the relics of some Christian Saint. This would improve the status of the city and ensure a constant influx of pilgrims. The choice fell on Saint Nicholas from the Lycian city of Myra (now the territory of Turkey).
In the spring of 1087, a ship with the relics of Saint Nicholas arrived in Bari. Since then, every year on May 9, the residents of Bari celebrate their arrival in the city. On the site where the Basilica of St. Nicholas is now located, the Governor`s Palace has been located since the time of Ancient Rome. A Crypt was built in the underground part of the Palace by 1089. The Relics of Saint Nicholas are still there today.
The construction of the Basilica itself began immediately. Parts of the Governor`s Palace were preserved during the construction of the Basilica, so its facade is not symmetrical. The construction was completed in 1105, but the Basilica of St. Nicholas was consecrated only in 1197. It is a magnificent example of the early Romanesque architectural style. In the center of the city, the Cathedral of St. Sabinus was built in the Romanesque style. It was founded in 1171 on the site of an older basilica, and consecrated in 1292.
In 1813, the Neapolitan king Joachim Murat decided to leave intact the medieval quarter of Bari, and build a New City to the south of it. Thus a large quarter with narrow streets and cramped buildings was preserved. Here you can see dozens of medieval churches, and just feel the atmosphere of that era. Near the port, you should visit the Norman-Swabian castle – a magnificent example of fortification of the Middle ages. You should also visit the Archaeological Museum of St. Scholastica.
