Taranto is a town of 185,112 inhabitants in the province of Taranto, in Puglia, Italy. It is the capital of its province.
The municipality covers 209.64 km², with a density of 883 inhabitants per km².
The nearest airport is Brindisi (BDS), about 64 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.
Things to see in Taranto
- The Gold of Taranto at MArTAArchaeology
- Old Taranto and the swing bridgeCuriosities
The city of two seas
Taranto, founded by Spartan colonists in the eighth century BC, was one of the greatest cities of Magna Graecia. It lies between the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo, with its old town on an island joined by a swing bridge.
What to see
The MArTA National Archaeological Museum has one of the world's finest collections of Greek art, including the famous Ori di Taranto, gold jewellery of exquisite workmanship. The Città Vecchia, on its island, keeps the cathedral of San Cataldo, the Doric columns of a Greek temple and the hypogea dug beneath the palaces. The Aragonese Castle, still used by the Navy, offers free guided tours, and the swing bridge opens to let ships into the Mar Piccolo.
Food
Mussels and oysters of the Mar Piccolo, fish soups, orecchiette and the red wine Primitivo di Manduria.
Around Taranto
The ravine towns of Massafra and Castellaneta, the ceramics of Grottaglie, Martina Franca and the Valle d'Itria with Alberobello and Locorotondo, the Ionian beaches and Matera about an hour away. Brindisi and Bari airports are both about an hour away.
Taranto on the map
Nearby towns
Where to stay in and around Taranto
Tours and activities nearby
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