In La cittá vecchia di Bari stands the glowing white La Basilica di S. Nicola. It was at this calcareous cathedral where the bones of the famous saint rested after being stolen from the Arab lands in 1087. I spent a full hour exploring the insides of this marvelous structure, admiring the 110 years of craftmanship that went into its erection (1087-1197). The crypt holds the tomb of St. Nicholas as well as the so-called "Miraculous Column" which, according to ancient tradition, was supposed to have been carried there by St. Nicholas himself. I wonder if he came down the chimney to deliver it?