The abandonment of children: past and present. The History and evolution of the wheel of the foundlings in the city of Taranto

Abstract

Even in today’s society, the mistreatment and abuse of children remains all too frequent; viewed as one of the worst forms of violence, there are frequent news stories on the high levels of infanticide, often being committed immediately after birth. These revelations have convinced many Italian towns, especially in the
north of Italy, to establish “cradles for life”, a modern reinvention of the former wheels of the foundlings, which were used in the past to place unwanted children into social care. Taranto, where child abandonment has reached high levels in recent years, is one of the few cities in the south of Italy to have also adopted this practice. The historical relevance of this phenomenon leads us to reflect on the evolution of the practice of abandonment over the centuries.
This paper traces the history of the practice of child abandonment in Taranto from the early decades of the XIX century, to the establishment of the provincial “Frisini” foundling house in 1923, immediately following the district of Taranto’s separation from the province of Lecce.
Particular attention is given to the wheel of the former monastery of Santa Chiara, which took in infants abandoned in Taranto up until 1894.