Monumento al Marinaio

Two bronze sailors raise their caps above Taranto's seafront. Created by Vittorio Di Cobertaldo in 1974 on commission from Admiral Angelo Iachino, the Monumento al Marinaio stands on Corso Due Mari facing the Mar Grande and the Canale Navigabile.

Why it matters

The monument honours the sailors of Italy's naval forces and reflects Taranto's close association with the navy. Its setting faces the waters linked to the 1940 Notte di Taranto, when an air attack struck the Italian fleet at anchor. The sculpture gives this episode and the city's maritime history a lasting presence on the waterfront.

What to notice

The bronze group shows two sailors, one holding his cap aloft in salute to vessels passing through the canal. The figures rise above Corso Due Mari, where the seafront railing carries a five-pointed star and the emblem of the Savoy navy. The sculpture and railing together form a distinctive memorial setting.

Context and history

Admiral Iachino commissioned the monument as a tribute to the sailors of the Italian naval forces in the Second World War. Di Cobertaldo's work was installed in 1974 on the seafront facing the Mar Grande. The nearby roadstead was the scene of the Notte di Taranto on 11–12 November 1940, when British aircraft attacked ships at anchor. The monument's placement connects the memorial to the waters and naval history it commemorates.