I have visited various churches, abbeys and shrines along the way, in Puglia you can hardly avoid them: even Bari airport is named after a pope!
But this one, the shrine of Saint Nicolas (yes, Father Christmas) is most moving.
The church is simple white soaring stonework but the roof is gold
Beneath the main altar is the shrine which, according to tradition, is where the relics of the Saint are kept.
I am not a fan of crypts and relics but this is a warm and comforting place, unlike many!
It feels very Eastern Orthodox and apparently in this church the Roman Catholics celebrate mass upstairs and the Russian Orthodox use the crypt church.
Perhaps this is an example of the Church starting to "breathe with both lungs". As I set off to the east I hope so.
Finally here is a lovely painting I saw in Canosa (I think!) of the Madonna of Constantinople. I hope her protection is still good now it's Istanbul!
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