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 will become the MArTA National Archaeological Museumcontinued in the work of Luigi Viola.
Quintino Quagliati And Ciro Drago they prevented the removal of antiquities, which unfortunately continued to fuel a thriving national and international black market, and kept some of the most important works of the current exhibition in Taranto.
Gold scepter from the Tomb of the Golds of Canosa secc. IV III BC – National archaeological museum of Taranto
Next day will be dedicated to the story of these important salvations 25 Aprilwhich throughout Italy will celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Liberation.
«The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto is the fruit 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 – stated 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 10.00at 11.30 and at 5.00pm the 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 which characterized the expansion of the exhibition spaces within theformer Convent of the Alcantarini of the management of Carlo Ceschiup to the adventurous and daring recoveries of some precious jewels which occurred during the direction of Ciro Drago.
The Ministry of Cultureon the occasion of April 25th, has foreseen 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 Aditus dealership for additional services of MARTA. 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.
