Villa Peripato, Taranto's main public garden overlooking the Mar Piccolo: history, the bust of Leonardo da Vinci, the archaeological area and how to visit.
History
Villa Peripato is Taranto's main public garden, a green oasis of almost five hectares terraced over the Mar Piccolo, in the Borgo Umbertino. The name recalls Aristotle's Peripatetic school — from the Greek perìpatos, "the walk" — whose illustrious exponent was the Tarantine philosopher and mathematician Archytas, who taught while walking and debating with his pupils.
The area, known since the late seventeenth century as the "garden of Sant'Antonio", belonged to the noble de Beaumont family and was planted with citrus, fruit and vines, beside the mussel and oyster farms of the Mar Piccolo. In 1832, with the marriage between the last descendant and Marchioness Maddalena Bonelli of Barletta, the garden became a refined holiday residence.
In 1863 the orchards were turned into a park open to the public; in the early decades of the twentieth century the property passed to the City of Taranto, which made it the town's municipal garden.
What to see
The garden retains its eclectic nineteenth-century charm, with tree-lined avenues, panoramic balconies over the Mar Piccolo and rich vegetation: Aleppo pines, plane trees, lindens, holm oaks and cypresses, alongside exotic species such as palms, magnolias and cedars. A pond alive with ducks and geese and a large playground make it much loved by families.
Villa Peripato is also an archaeological reserve: excavations have brought to light dwellings from the early imperial age, painted tombs and the rooms of a Roman domus with second-century AD mosaic floors.
Did you know…
- The name derives from Aristotle's Peripatetic school, linked to the Tarantine philosopher Archytas.
- The garden holds the bust of Leonardo da Vinci, from the ship of the same name sunk in the Mar Piccolo in 1916.
- Beneath the greenery lies an archaeological area with the remains of a mosaic-floored Roman domus.
- It is the city's second green lung and a favourite spot for Tarantine families.
Practical information
| Hours | Public garden, generally open during the day. Times may vary by season. |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free entry. |
| Accessibility | Mostly level paths; there is also an inclusive swing for children with disabilities. |
| Getting there | In Via Pitagora, in the Borgo Umbertino, a short distance from the centre and the seafront. |
Tips for your visit
- Lean out from the balconies for the view over the Mar Piccolo and the Navy base.
- Ideal for a break with children, between the playground and the pond.
- Look for the bust of Leonardo da Vinci and the traces of the archaeological area among the greenery.