The Diocesan Museum of Nardò

After the Gallipoli section of the Diocesan Museum, in operation since 12 July 2004, on 7 June 2017, the Nardò section was opened, named for “Mons. Aldo Garzia”, the first bishop of the new Nardò-Gallipoli diocesan district, creator of the Diocesan Centre of Cultural Heritage, gold medallist for culture and art merits.

It is located on the first floor of the antique Nardò Seminary, in piazza Pio XI, and it has a large exhibition area with 7 large halls and two corridors in addition to the services (ticket office, bookshop, restrooms, storage, refreshment hall). The building includes construction from various periods which have, in the past, housed the city hospital and, from 1674 through 1964, the Diocesan Seminary. On the ground floor, in addition to a few Diocesan Curia offices, there is the prestigious “Mons. Antonio Sanfelice” Diocesan Library, a conference room, museum lapidary arranged in the cloister which is used as a place for socialisation and refreshments. The important Diocesan Historical Archive/“Mons. Domenico Caliandro” Nardò section is located on the mezzanine floor.

The noteworthy historic-artistic heritage of the Treasure of the Cathedral which dates back as far as 1099 is housed in the Museum, along with other works from various churches of the city and the Nardò diocese, arranged more or less in chronological order.