Taranto
The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA) is one of the most important archaeological museums in Italy, established in 1887. Its headquarters is the former Convent of San Pasquale di Baylon, also known as the Convent of the Alcantarini Friars, built in the second half of the 18th century. The convent was built thanks to Fra Serafino Carrozzini da Soleto, who in 1747 obtained the decree for its foundation from Charles III of Bourbon and Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony. After the unification of Italy, in 1865, the convent was expropriated and used as a prison, and was then purchased by the Municipality of Taranto and transformed into the headquarters of the national museum. The MArTA houses one of the richest collections of artifacts from the Magna Graecia era, including the famous Gold of Taranto.