From 7 to 9 May, the Festival in honour of the Saint

The Festival, which takes place from 7 to 9 May, sees solemn religious celebrations and numerous cultural events to commemorate and re-enact the Translation of St Nicholas, with a historical procession that re-enacts the feat of the sailors from Bari who changed the very destiny of their city. On 8 May, the evocative ceremony comes to life in the narrow streets of Bari Vecchia, surrounded by the embrace of the sea. It is precisely on the waters of the sea that, once the statue crosses the portal of the church, it goes in a procession through the main streets of Bari to meet its pilgrims, and then waits on the sea for the pilgrims who come to pay homage to the saint on boats. On 9 May, the transfer of the relics in 1087 is remembered, where thanks to the audacity of the sailors the city of Bari received its most beautiful treasure. There is a solemn Eucharistic concelebration for a moment of great ecclesial communion with the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the miracle of St Nicholas’ Manna, which oozes from the Saint’s bones and blesses the people. On these days, the whole town takes to the streets to celebrate the patron saint, and the scents of local street food and the lights of the majestic illuminations create a magical atmosphere that is definitely not to be missed.