Bari Archaeological Museum Reopens After Decade-Long Restoration
The Museo Archeologico di Bari has reopened following the restoration of the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Scolastica, which commenced in 2011 and was officially inaugurated on June 30, 2021. This initiative, led by Luigi La Rocca along with the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for Puglia, integrates the historical collection of the Museo Provinciale di Antichità di Bari with new discoveries. Ancient Peucetia artifacts, including the Polese Collection, are displayed on the ground floor. The first floor showcases Prehistory and Protohistory of Terra di Bari. Visitors enter through a 12th-century portico, encountering Hellenic walls and medieval cisterns. A videomapping installation is located in the 16th-century Bastion, while temporary exhibits include "Forme del desiderio," curated by Roberta Giuliani, available throughout summer 2021.
Key facts
- Restoration of Monastery of Santa Scolastica began in 2011
- Inaugurated on June 30, 2021
- Project led by Luigi La Rocca and Regional Secretariat of Ministry of Culture for Puglia
- Museum unites historic collection of Museo Provinciale di Antichità di Bari (founded late 19th century) with recent finds
- Ground floor: sections on ancient Peucetia (6th–3rd century BCE) with indigenous and Greek ceramics
- Polese Collection of about 2,000 objects assembled since 1925
- First floor: Prehistory and Protohistory in Terra di Bari (Neolithic and Metal Age)
- Bastion from 1500 built by Duchess Bona Sforza with videomapping installation
- Edoardo Tresoldi creating site-specific work in San Pietro archaeological area
- Contemporary art show 'Forme del desiderio' runs summer 2021 with works by Sol LeWitt, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol, etc.
Entities
Artists
- Edoardo Tresoldi
- Sol LeWitt
- Robert Mapplethorpe
- Robin Heidi Kennedy
- Dennis Oppenheim
- Andy Warhol
- James Brown
- Joseph Kosuth
- Jenny Holzer
- On Kawara
- Vincent Shine
- Pat Steir
- Bona Sforza
Institutions
- Museo Archeologico di Bari
- Monastero di Santa Scolastica
- Ministero della Cultura per la Puglia
- Museo Provinciale di Antichità di Bari
- Consiglio Provinciale di Bari
- Amministrazione provinciale di Bari
- Città Metropolitana di Bari
- Artribune
Locations
- Bari
- Italy
- Puglia
- Terra di Bari
- San Pietro
- Siponto