A brief guide to the city of Taranto

The ancient coastal city of Taranto is Italy’s main naval base as well as being a key commercial port. Dating back to 800 BC, the modern city was built on the foundations of the old and it was once a Spartan colony. As you may have guessed from the name, it is also the home of the tarantella, a whirling, frenzied dance which was supposed to help the dancer sweat out the toxins if bitten by a type of local spider (from which we get the name tarantula).

Taranto lies on a strip of fortified islands and promontories between two bays, that of the commercial port, Mar Grande (big sea) which has two small islands, San Pietro and San Paolo and the old port known as Mar Piccolo (little sea). The old town is actually on an island connected to the modern city by a bridge.

Visit the ‘Museo nazionale’ in corso Umbero to see sculpture, tomb relics and wonderful ceramics. The 17th century Palazzo Carducci Artenisio is also worth a visit, with its iron cantilevered roof, amazing collection of art and huge library. The 11th century Duomo has traces of several different periods, including a Baroque façade and Roman columns.

In the new town as well as shops and restaurants there’s the 1970s cathedral built by Gio Ponti. The Lungomare promenade with its palms and oleanders is very attractive with panoramic views of the harbour.