San Nicolò al Lido is a Church located in the northern part of Venice's Lido, and houses the relics of St. Nicholas, patron of sailors (shared with Bari), the model for Santa Claus. Here was (and still is) celebrated the traditional thanksgiving mass of the Sposalizio del Mare ("Marriage of the Sea") when the Doge (Duke) threw a gold ring into the lagoon from a special ship, the Bucintoro, since St. Nicholas was the patron saint of the Most Serene Republic's Navy.The monastery and the church, already existed at foundation of Venice, about 700 AD according to tradition. In 1099, always from this port, departed to east the Venetian participation to the First Crusade. In 1100 here were laid the relics of the body of St. Nicholas, the church was already dedicated to; they were stolen from Myra of Lycia, today's Turkey. The Venetians succeeded into outsmarting the people from Bari where other relics of the saint were already put in 1089, by Pope Urban II in person. In fact, the Venetians had better informants, who brought them to a secret sanctuary, which contained more important bones and relics than those stolen by Bari (Puglia) at the time a Byzantine governorate. In conclusion, poor Old Nick's body is still located in two different towns along the Adriatic Sea: Venice and Bari. Thanks for your kind comments.