The Chapel of the Relics of Saint Nicholas

THE CHAPEL OF THE RELICS TheChapel of the Relics (fig. 73) is located in the Bell Tower, right hand when entering the Basilica. Here till the year 2010 was the Treasury Hall. :KHQ LW KDV EHHQ RSHQHG WKH 6W 1LFKRODV¶ 0XVHXP RQ WKH EDFNVLGH RIthe Basilica, near the ancient arch of the City walls), it was decided to exhibit in the Museum all the pieces previously in the Treasury Hall with the exception of the reliquaries still containing a sacred relic. The chapel of the Relics normally is not open for tourist visits, but only for personal prayer. Aroundthe year 1150 this tower was destined to function as chapelcemetery of the canons. The epigraphs speaking of this destination are today in the St Nicholas Museum. Later the chapel was dedicated to the Saints Peter and Paul. On high it was created a passage in order to allow the rev. Prior to come down into the church without going outside. The oval paintings are exactly the ancient rectors or Priors who (appointed by the King till the year 1929, when the church fell under papal jurisdiction) governed the Church. The last of these Priors died in 1945. Because of the crisis of the Chapter of the Canons, in 1951 the Pope Pius XII replaced the Canons with the Dominican Fathers. Themost precious Relics preserved in St Nicholas Basilica come from two main sources: the passage of Crusaders and Pilgrims to and from the Holy Land, and the generosity of Charles of Anjou, King of Naples (1285-1309).