The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA) is a state museum that displays one of the largest collections of Magna Graecia artefacts in existence, including the famous Gold of Taranto; since 2014 it has held special autonomy within the Ministry of Culture.
What to see
The museum, founded in 1887, occupies the former convent of San Pasquale di Baylon on Corso Cavour, built in the 18th century; the archaeologist Luigi Viola had wanted to make it a true Museum of Magna Graecia, but its focus has always remained tied mainly to the archaeological documentation of Taranto and Puglia. Closed for expansion works in the early 1960s, it reopened in 1963 in the presence of President of the Republic Antonio Segni; closed again for restoration from 2000, with a partial display at Palazzo Pantaleo, it fully reopened to the public in 2007 after a long renovation.
The route, spread over several floors, includes the Greek-Roman section devoted to Tarantine society — marble sculptures, necropolis ceramics, goldwork — and the prehistoric section covering the whole of Puglia; among the most celebrated pieces are marble statues from Paros, the bronze Zeus of Ugento, and a collection of gold jewellery spanning the archaic to the Byzantine era. In 2023 the sculptural group of Orpheus and the Sirens returned to permanent display, having been smuggled out of Italy in the 1970s and later found at the Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Visiting
The museum is open to the public, with hours and tickets available on the official website, worth checking before visiting.
Our editors' tip
Don't stop at the most famous rooms: the collection of small everyday objects — mirrors, cosmetic boxes, hairpins — conveys the ordinary life of ancient Tarantines with a vividness the great statues alone cannot match.
