Basilica of St Nicholas (source: Visual Puglia )
The building has a basilica-style structure with three naves and a continual transcept ending in three apses of simple Benedictine design. The transcept consists of an enormous tripartite chamber with two transverse arcades showing the cross and connected by arches on top of which a cupola should rise but was never built. The gallery originally designed for women, however, is of Nordic derivation, the first of its kind to appear in Puglia. The inside of the Basilica is made especially attractive by the numerous supporting capitals, designed as truncated pyramids and decorated on all four sides. These are reminiscent of Byzantine designs, enlivened by figurative decorations and capitals in the shape of washbowls which bear motifs and forms of classical matrix with other markings of Anglo-Norman miniatures.
Beneath the internal transcept is the crypt, composed of thirty six bays covered with cross-shaped vaults supported on capitals - some of which are unadorned, Byzantine or late Medieval although most date back to the 11th century – with various decorative motifs, both anonymous and figurative. In the presbytery, a stone altar preserves the relics and has, for centuries, oozed manna; a liquid still distribted in ampollas to the devout. The entire holy building is paved with an opus sectile mosaic in Byzantine style with geometric motifs.
The outside of the structure has a solid, compact appearance with apses enclosed within a masonry curtain. The façade is flanked by two towers connected to the wings of the transcept by a continual series of great arches. The decoration of the portals stands out, as does the vestibule set on columns supported by stone griffins.
The building we see today is the fruit of a series of restoration campaigns between 1928 and 1956. The monumental carved wood and gold ceiling bears witness to the Baroque phase, with paintings by Carlo Rosa depicting Scenes from the life and miracles of the Saint.
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Murge are composed of rectangular-shaped calcareous tableland marked by the Ofanto river, the 'Messapi threshold', Basilicata and Adriatic Sea. Murge territory is partially protected through the homonymous park. It encloses an astonishing variety of landscapes: caves, sanctuaries, defensive strongholds, churches and rock settlements, small towns and big cities. Coastal cities such as Bari, Mola, Polignano offer tourists a right mix of limpid waters, beautiful beaches and an extremely wide historic as well as artistic panorama. On the contrary, in the northern part of the region Andria and Altamura attract tourists with their history and rich food heritage.
The Adriatic Coast of Bari territory is characterized by several cities overlooking the coast with their medieval centers. Apulian capital stands ashore with its Castle, close to smaller cities which allow spending beautiful, relaxing vacations at close touch with history
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Northern Murge are characterized by evocative Medieval towns, small fortified villages where that defended populations during invasions. Andria is famous for Castel del Monte, with its classical octagonal layout, built by Frederick II as hunting manor. Altamura makes a bread that puts together the fragrance of wheat and color of the Apulian sun
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia