Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto · Italy · Reef
Sarcophagi of San Pietro in Bevagna
Roman marble sarcophagi on the seabed close to the beach
The Sarcophagi of San Pietro in Bevagna are a group of large Roman marble sarcophagi lying on the seabed just off the village of San Pietro in Bevagna, east of Taranto. It is a shallow dive to an underwater archaeological site, close to the mouth of the Chidro river.
Also known as Sarcofagi del Re, Vasche del Re, Le Vasche del Re.
Where it is and how deep
40.3056° N, 17.6419° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site lies about 100 m off the shoreline. The great marble tubs rest on the bottom at about 5 m near the mouth of the Chidro river, and the whole visit stays in that shallow water close to the coast.
Background
The 22 sarcophagi are colossal and extremely heavy marble pieces that went down in the third century AD together with the ship carrying them to Rome. They never reached their destination and still lie off the village of San Pietro in Bevagna, where they are known locally as the Sarcofagi del Re or the Vasche del Re, the King's tubs.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto: The sea feels quite warm from June to September and cold in January and February; October is mild.
Questions divers ask
Can the Sarcophagi of San Pietro in Bevagna be reached from shore?+
Yes. They lie about 100 m off the shoreline in about 5 m of water, within Open Water limits, and a small dinghy also reaches the site.
Sources
- Le Vasche del Re - Logbook Immersioni — Logbook Immersioni
- Sarcofagi del Re — Made in Taranto
- Dive in History: San Pietro in Bevagna sarcophagi — Dive in History
More dive sites in Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto
Freshwater
A spring-fed crater with aquarium-clear water
A deep ridge where groupers patrol below 33 m
Ravines and small caves split a long wall down to 33 m
Reef
A rock face full of morays below a ruined watchtower
Similar dives elsewhere
An easy beach entry at a small harbour north of Coral Bay
Two sea-carved amphitheatres joined over the top of a wall
Orange sponges, groupers and octopuses in a bay dived by day and night
A shore dive 30 m from the base, inside a buoy line