Nicolaiano Museum, between the manna cloth and the Magdalene's tooth

The Nicolaian Museum is located inside the Nicolaian Citadel of Bari, in the rooms that were part of the ancient Pilgrim's Hospice, a few steps from the Basilica, where works and artifacts related to the figure of the Saint are preserved. The Pontifical Basilica of San Nicola has entrusted its management to the Accademia Cittadella Nicolaiana, which in 2019 redeveloped the Museum with a new exhibition route, an audio guide in several languages ​​to accompany tourists on a cognitive journey through the works of the museum, the Basilica and the complex of the Nicolaian Citadel.

The Ground Floor allows you to travel through the historical eras, from the Greek Roman, through the Byzantine, up to the Norman Swabian. Works of high historical-religious value are: the Votive Crown of Roger II, the Enamel of Roger II and the parchment with the Seal of Frederick II of Swabia.

We find ourselves, therefore, in front of what is called the “Treasure of Saint Nicholas”: the most precious gifts, the sacred vestments, the codices and the liturgical objects dedicated to the Saint. Among the most important objects we find: the original Seal of the Tomb of Saint Nicholas, the Parchment of the 62 sailors, the Pastoral of Abbot Elias and the Manna Cloth.

Following the creation of the Nicolaiano Museum, the Chapel of the Relics, also known as the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, was also established. This is an important section of the Basilica that houses all the treasures once kept in the Treasure Room. This corner of the church is not normally accessible for tourist visits, but is reserved for personal prayer, offering an atmosphere of calm and reflection.

The display case on the left is particularly significant, as it displays the relic of St. Thomas the Apostle, recognizable by the arrow he holds in his right hand. At the base of the same display case is a relic of the Magdalene. Among the oldest relics documented in the Basilica, that of St. Thomas dates back to 1102, supported by a report by the famous Bari writer of the time, Giovanni Arcidiacono. It is likely that the relic of St. James the Less, with his knotted staff in his left hand, also dates back to the time of the Crusades, together with the relic of St. Placidus. Other relics, such as those of St. Lawrence, St. Blaise, St. Sixtus, the tooth of the Magdalene, St. Lucy and the Veil of the Virgin, seem to belong to the Angevin period, between 1266 and 1442.

The display case on the right features the relic of Saint Gregory the Great, who is depicted with the tiara and the three-armed cross. Next to this, there is a relic that has enjoyed exceptional veneration over the centuries: the sacred one, donated by Charles II of Anjou in 1301. This relic is linked to a traditional miracle: if Good Friday coincides with the day of the Annunciation, the tip of the relic bleeds, thus attracting the devotion of the faithful. Above, there is also a small temple dedicated to Saint Sebastian, which was originally a monstrance, with a little angel on top bearing the inscription “Corpus Domini”.

Further relics, linked to the Passion of the Lord, include the sacred Sponge and the relic of Saint Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus. Next comes the relic of Pope Saint Urban, with a silver palm in his left hand, and finally one of the most significant relics, that of Saint James the Greater. This relic creates an ideal link with the famous sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela, known for pilgrimages. Just as in the Spanish sanctuary there is an altar dedicated to Saint Nicholas, in the sanctuary in Bari pilgrims recognized the right hand of Saint James, immediately associating it with the shells that adorn the base.

Another fascinating element of the Chapel of the Relics is represented by the rock crystal candlesticks, of extraordinary workmanship, which date back to the Angevin donation of 1296. These candlesticks are among the oldest existing examples in Italy.

Finally, the relic box was prepared immediately after the people of Bari stole the relics of the Saint, made according to the shapes of the containers in which sailors stored food. Once they reached San Giorgio, four miles from Bari, they prepared another one, enriched with fabrics purchased in Antioch. Although the three inventories of the 14th century do not mention it among the precious objects, its importance increased in the 16th century, when it began to be documented. In 1659, the original box was remade on the initiative of Don Pedro de Varays, but in 1887 the wooden remains were extracted and placed in a crystal urn to allow the public to view them. Recently, a piece of this relic was taken into space by Russian astronauts, who left half in the chapel of the City of Stars and donated the other half to the Basilica, further enriching its history and meaning.