Palazzo Jatta: A Historical Gem in Ruvo di Puglia
Palazzo Jatta stands as an architectural treasure in Ruvo di Puglia, within the metropolitan city of Bari. Located in Piazza Giovanni Bovio, this palace graces the 19th-century Ruvo, just a short stroll away from the late Baroque church of San Domenico.
Around 1840, the architect Luigi Castellucci received a commission from Giulia Viesti to create a residence beyond the city walls, complete with several rooms designated for a museum.
The new residence for the Jatta family was constructed in an area known as "Palmenti del Purgatorio," a vast space once belonging to the homonymous confraternity.
Today, the Jatta National Archaeological Museum preserves the Jatta collection, which took shape between 1820 and 1842. When the collection was on the verge of being handed over to the King of Naples (as per Giovanni's wishes), Giulia Viesti, wife of Giulio, intervened to nullify her brother-in-law's decision. She provided a home for the museum in Ruvo di Puglia.
A proper palace was erected outside the city, designed by the architect from Bitonto, Luigi Castellucci. Its purpose was to unite the two parts of the collection, previously divided between the ancient family house in Ruvo and Giovanni Jatta's residence in Naples.
Within the museum, the vases are arranged based on the aesthetic tastes of the time. The larger, more exquisite pieces, deemed more beautiful and important, are positioned atop elegant wooden columns in the final rooms. Others find their place in the display cases of the initial chambers. The Jatta Museum stands as the only museum in Italy that still preserves the original layout envisioned by its founder in the 19th century.
In 1991, the State acquired the palace, inaugurating its opening in 1993. The Jatta Museum is a collection of terracotta vases, dating from the 7th to the 4th century BCE. Not all displayed vases are from Ruvo; many come from Canosa and Taranto, while others have a direct origin in Greece.
Jatta National Archaeological Museum - Jatta Palace
Address: Piazza Bovio Giovanni, 35, 70037
Phone: +390803612848
Site:
http://www.palazzojatta.org/Location inserted by
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