Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Tourist Office
(
0833 26 25 29; Via Antonietta de Pace 86;
8am-9pm summer, 8am-1pm & 4-9pm
Mon-Sat winter)
Near the cathedral in the old town.
Getting There & Away
FSE buses and trains head to Lecce (€3.90, one hour, four daily).
Taranto
POP 193,100
According to legend, the city was founded by Taras, son of Poseidon, who arrived on the
back of a dolphin (as you do). Less romantically, the city was actually founded in the 7th
century BC by exiles from Sparta to become one of the wealthiest and most important
colonies of Magna Graecia. The fun finished, however, in the 3rd century BC when the
Romans marched in, changed its name to Tarentum and set off a two-millennium decline
in fortunes. Its cultural heyday may be over but Taranto still remains an important naval
base, second only to La Spezia.
Once a Roman citadel, the collapsing historic medieval centre is gritty and dirty but has
a lovely seaside promenade. However, the mainland industrial centre, with Italy's largest
steel plant, dominates the skyline.
