Amati Palace

Palazzo Amati dates back to the second half of the eighteenth century and was born from the merging of at least three pre-existing buildings, assuming exceptional dimensions for the Old City: it counted over thirty-seven rooms. It was commissioned by Baron Giacomo Amati, belonging to a noble Roman family, and its size was meant to meet the needs of a very large family, as well as the presence of numerous servants. In 1869, the property was expropriated by the Municipality; the building was partially demolished and modified for the arrangement of the Wall Road, known by the people of Taranto as "la Ringhiera". From 1899, it was transformed into the first elementary school in the area, becoming one of the first places of education for generations of Taranto residents after informal experiences with the so-called "à maestre". The structure included two upper floors and a basement level: the ground floor housed service areas, warehouses, and cisterns, with a connection leading towards the sea. The interior facade features balconies with iron railings, a monumental entrance with paired columns and capitals, and a grand marble staircase; the facade facing the Mar Grande is more modest, punctuated by windows and an iron loggia. Declared uninhabitable in the 1960s, it was later restored and also used for university functions related to Marine Sciences and the Maritime Museum. The current Ketos project is managed by the Jonian Dolphin Conservation.