Torre d'Ayala Swimming Stadium

The Torre d'Ayala Swimming Stadium is the new swimming complex under construction on the coast of Taranto, in the Italia-Montegranaro district, intended to host the competitions of the XXth Mediterranean Games in 2026 and to subsequently become a multifunctional public sports facility. The project, part of the urban redevelopment program of the city, brings back into use a stretch of coastline that is currently underutilized, strengthening the relationship between Taranto, the sea, and the local historical heritage. The complex covers approximately 12,000 square meters and includes two 50-meter Olympic pools: one indoor, with a grandstand of 980 seats, and one outdoor, with around 1,000 seats. The pools are designed for international level swimming and water polo; the facility will also include changing rooms, technical rooms, gyms, medical-sports clinics, spaces for the public, a bar-restaurant, and areas for classes, training, and recreational activities. After the Games, the structure is planned to become a permanent reference point for competitive sports, basic practice, and community leisure activities. The architecture follows the natural slope of the land with three terraced levels descending towards the Ionian Sea, forming a bridge-like building between the level of Viale Virgilio and the coast. The terraces, green areas, cycle and pedestrian paths, and visual cones are designed to maintain a continuous relationship between the pools, the seascape, and the city skyline. The large roof of the indoor pool, conceived as a sail or a suspended wave, combines steel and laminated wood and constitutes the main recognizable feature of the complex. The project draws inspiration from Taranto's historic bastions, reinterpreting their strength in a contemporary language of horizontal masses, natural light, and panoramic views. Special attention is paid to sustainability: draining surfaces, landscaping, durable materials, provision for photovoltaic panels, and strategies to reduce energy consumption in line with current environmental criteria. The area retains significant archaeological evidence upstream, near Torre d'Ayala, including a necropolis, chamber tombs, and traces of an ancient city wall. To protect these historic remains, the Swimming Stadium is located in the western and terminal portion of the lot, closer to the sea. The new urban square connected to the Tower, the coastal park, and the sea accesses aim to integrate sports, landscape, soft mobility, and historical memory into a new landmark on the Taranto coast.