Via Pitagora, 74123 Taranto TA
You can reach the Tomb of the Athletes in Taranto by car by taking the A3 from Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi (Naples) via Via Galileo Ferraris. Continue along the A3 and A2/E45 to Sicignano degli Alburni, taking the exit for Potenza. Proceed along the E847 and then the E90 until you reach Via F. Crispi, where this important archaeological site is located.
Several bus routes are available from Naples Central Station, operated by Trenitalia and FlixBus. Depending on the service chosen, the final destination may vary slightly, but all buses arrive in central Taranto. From there, an additional ride is required to reach the Tomb of the Athletes.
You can reach the center of Taranto by train from Naples Central Station. The train stops at Potenza station before ending its journey on the west side of Piazza della Libertà in Taranto. From there, a short bus ride is needed to reach the Tomb.
The Tomb of the Athletes is one of the most significant examples of Tarantine funerary architecture from the Archaic period, dating between the late 6th and early 5th centuries BCE. Located at the corner of Via Pitagora and Via Crispi, this chamber tomb features a quadrangular layout and is entirely constructed and paved with regular blocks of carparo stone. Originally, the roof consisted of slabs and architraves made of the same material, supported by two Doric columns aligned at the center of the chamber. Inside, seven sarcophagi are arranged along the walls, echoing the layout of banquet couches (klinai) typical of the andron, the dining hall reserved for men in Archaic Greek homes. This configuration highlights the importance of the symposium in the funerary culture of Taranto during this period. The Tomb of the Athletes is open to the public and serves as a valuable testament to the funerary practices and cultural influences of Archaic Taranto.
