Bari: San Nicola, the manna, a 17-minute train

Bari's basilica has held the relics of Saint Nicholas since May 9, 1087¹, a liquid called the manna is drawn from the tomb on that date every year, and the airport is 17 minutes from the central station by train.

What happened on May 9, 1087

Sixty-two sailors and merchants from Bari sailed three ships to Myra, in Lycia, and landed the relics of Saint Nicholas here on May 9, 1087¹. The abbot Elia, archbishop of Bari from 1089¹, drove the project.

Building started on July 8, 1089¹, and on October 1 of the same year Pope Urban II laid the relics under the altar of the crypt, where they still are. The dates matter because the whole calendar of the city hangs off them.

The manna, and what pilgrims actually receive

A liquid gathers in the tomb in the crypt and is drawn out on the evening of May 9 each year, half a liter on average. An analysis in 1925 found water of unusual purity, and the argument over whether the origin is natural or miraculous has never been settled.

One detail gets misreported constantly. What is handed out afterward is small bottles of holy water into which some of the manna collected on May 9 has been poured, not liquid taken from the tomb. The Dominican friars have been the custodians of the basilica since 1951. More at the manna of San Nicola and events in Bari.

Airport to city in 17 minutes

Bari Karol Wojtyla airport at Palese has had its own station since 2013, run by Ferrotramviaria, and the ride to Bari Centrale is timetabled at 17 minutes. The platform sits inside the airport grounds, joined to the arrivals hall by a 300³ meter tunnel.

The line is fully electrified and also runs direct to Barletta. At Bari Centrale the Ferrotramviaria station connects to the national platforms by a pedestrian underpass, which is worth knowing if you are dragging a suitcase to a Frecciarossa. See getting to Bari.

South to Lecce, two speeds

The Regionale Veloce covers Bari Centrale to Lecce in 1h41 to 1h43 at a base fare of €13.20⁴, and the Frecciarossa does it in 1h25 at €14.90⁴ base, on the timetable checked for September 15, 2026. Night Intercity services take between 1h56 and 2h50.

Sixteen minutes of difference for €1.70 is a rare case in Italy where the fast train is barely worth the seat reservation. Book the regional and keep the flexibility, unless you want the guaranteed seat in August.

The Swabian castle, and the Sunday trap

The Castello Svevo costs €10 full and €2 reduced in 2026, and opens Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, with last entry an hour before closing. Monday is the closing day.

From October to March, Sunday hours shrink to 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, which catches out weekend visitors who assume the afternoon slot exists all year. The exception is the first Sunday of the month, when it stays open to 7:00 pm. It is run by the state museums directorate for Puglia, at Piazza Federico II di Svevia 4. Details at the Swabian castle, and the rest of the region at Puglia.

↑ Contents