Saint Nicholas of the Fishermen
San Nicola dei Pescatori
A second major statue of San Nicola is to be installed on the Bari Seafront in front of the arch leading to the Basilica di San Nicola. The sculptor is Professor Mauro Antonio Mezzina, of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bari. It is an ambitious project and funding for the project is underway.
St. Nicholas came to Bari by sea and is the protector of seafarers. The statue is to be both religious and historical and is intended to represent the dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox worlds. The sculpture has St. Nicholas pointing to the sea, invoking its accommodation and protection. The image is of a shipwrecked fishing boat, with St. Nicholas stilling the waves. It is therefore a dichotomy with the drama of the shipwreck together with serenity captured in one miraculous gesture.
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