Bari celebrates San Nicola

On Saturday May 7, 2016, commenced in Bari the celebration of the San Nicola's relics.

From a historical perspective, the relics were seized from the burial in Myra (Turkey) in spring 1087 by 62 sailors, who departed from Bari with this specific goal.

Venice, the Serenissima, was eager to grab the relics of San Nicola either. 

However, baresi were quicker than venetian.




I missed big time the atmosphere I always  breathe once in Bari. 

So, Lucia and I took straight away this opportunity to visit it. 

We leave Altamura, where we live, in the afternoon, heading to Bari.




I drop a message to Marco, an old friend of mine, whom I don't see since ages. 





Marco is a barese doc. We used to play football together.

He always dressed the Bari jersey. He is one of the most passionate football fan I have ever met.   





By the way, meantime I write this post, I'm cooking an aubergine on pan, so I have to take a break and check it out, avoiding that the aubergine gets burned.

Marco replies to my message, he is in Bari, so we are going to catch up and spend the night all together.

I park the car far away from the city centre.

Never mind, Lucia and I walk for ten minuets before getting on bus, which brings us to Bari vecchia (old Bari). 

Walking throughout Bari vecchia is a unique experience.

People who live there seem comforted by the fact that is not left alone.







The atmosphere is sparkling.

Thousands of people are being gathered in town.




Dozens of fornacelle, authorised and not, are spread all around, making the city centre looking like a souq.



By the way, fornacella is synonymous of street food.



In such times, Bari really seems like any other Middle-Eastern city laid on the Mediterranean sea. 



Following the seaside, we arrive at El ciringhito, a place where  hundreds of lads, Italians and not, catch up to drink beer, talk and smoke a joint.





I strongly recommend you to experience it

The historical parade is just great.

The climax is reached when a wooden caravel carries on the San Nicola's paint, hold by two sailors.

It's around 10.30 when some of us feel to eat something.

"Let's have a pizza at Dregher" Marco proposes.

This is a very popular pizzeria in the hearth of Bari.

This place is fantastic because the pizza maker sings while preparing pizza.

It's really cool.





Additionally, the two waiters who serves at the table are so funny.

I asked them to be portrayed and they proudly accepted it.  







From my point of view, the pizza there is not that great.

However, the experience is definitely worth it.


Ps.
As you can, I have edited my pics black/white.

I have come to such choice because inspired by the way two great photographers work: Tano D'amico and Sebastiao Salgado