Around Puglia - the Magnificent Cathedrals
Bari - Basilica di San Nicola. Built in the late 1000s to house the remains of San Nicola. The church had agreed with a bunch of entrepreneurial looters (euphemistically termed "seamen") to go 50-50 on the proceeds to be ripped off future pilgrims coming to Bari, if they went and stole the bones of San Nicola, the 4th Century bishop of Myra in Lycia, which is in present day Turkey. This is the same Nicholas who features at Christmas time all over the world and is also Patron Saint of Seafarers. The entrepreneurs completed their side of the deal in 1087, but the church reneged on the 50 - 50 bit and took all of the proceeds ...... plus ca change .........
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