25 April at the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto the story of a museum that saved everyone’s archaeological heritage – PugliaLive – Online information newspaper

While Italy was going through the troubled twenty years of Nazi-Fascism and the tragedy of World War II, in Taranto, thanks to the work of two inspectors and then directors of what would become the MArTA National Archaeological Museum, the work of Luigi Viola.

From Quintino Quagliati to Ciro Drago, in fact, the removal of antiquities was prevented, which unfortunately continued to fuel a thriving national and international black market, and some of the most important works of the current exhibition were kept in Taranto.

Next April 25th will be dedicated to the story of these important rescues, which will celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Liberation throughout Italy.

“The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto is the result of all the commitment that men and women of culture, inspectors, superintendents, archaeologists, put in to save a heritage that belongs to everyone and now constitutes an inestimable treasure for the nation, for Puglia and Taranto – states the director of MArTA, Stella Falzone – and it is therefore good to remember that thanks to them today we are still able to admire the precious gold, ceramics, bronzes or mosaics from all over Puglia”.

At 10.00, 11.30 and 17.00 guided tours entitled “The Museum at war: from Fascism to Liberation”, will recall these events.

Through the rooms of the permanent collection, visitors will be accompanied among the finds linked to the Quagliati direction, up to those that characterized the expansion of the exhibition spaces inside the former Alcantarini Convent of the direction of Carlo Ceschiup to the adventurous and daring recoveries of some precious jewels which occurred during the direction of Ciro Drago.

The Ministry of Culture, on the occasion of April 25th, has planned thefree entry in all state museums and places of culture, including the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto.

The guided tours on April 25th are with reservation required at the telephone number: 099.4532112.

On the same day, at different times, paid thematic visits can be booked by the company Aditusconcessionaire for MArTA additional services. All information is available on the website of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto at www.museotaranto.cultura.gov.it by selecting the “Ticket Office” item.