| The church and the convent of San Francesco, or St. Francis, constitutes the largest and most important complex of the historic district. The moment of its construction is usually set at the time of the Saint's passage to Taranto. This event, which has never been historically documented, is representative of the importance given to the Franciscans in the city, who chose these precise sites to establish their first community. Constructed most likely during the XIV century, it was originally made up of the convent and by a small church.
The convent, which was remodelled during the second half of the XVII century, served several purposes over the centuries: used as the City Hall during the eighteenth century, it later became the headquarters of Napoleonic troops, under the name of Caserma Rossarol.
The cloister is especially lovely, designed with four wings with porticoes and splendid crossed vaults suspended over sturdy pillars.
The Municipality of Taranto has given this building to the University of Bari to place its headquarter in Taranto. |