Bari's 70-Meter Saint Nicholas Statue and Museum Competition Launched

The association Una statua per San Nicola has published a competition for a 70-meter-tall monument to Saint Nicholas in Bari's port district, Varco della Vittoria. The structure, including a 20-meter base, will house a museum, experiential theater, study center, restaurant, and theme park. The two-phase competition is open to Italian and international participants, with free registration until September 27, 2021. A jury will select up to three finalists based on feasibility (30 points), quality (30 points), environmental enhancement (20 points), and originality (20 points). The winner is expected to be announced in early 2022. Critics, including Arturo Cucciolla on Repubblica, have called the proposal a vulgar and violent idea that would transform Bari. The association retains full intellectual property rights, with the author ceding economic rights without compensation. The project still requires approval from public authorities including the municipality, region, superintendencies, port authority, and state property office.