Overview
Taranto is a gritty, working port city in southeastern Italy with a thousand-year history and one of the most important naval bases in the country. The old town (Città Vecchia) sits on a peninsula with Greek and Norman heritage, while the modern city sprawls northward.
Architecture · Day Trips · Food · History · Museums
Before you go
Culture
Major naval base city with a thousand-year Greek history. Old town (Città Vecchia) on a peninsula has Norman and Greek heritage sites.
Food
Local seafood and Pugliese cuisine at Il Porto in the old town. Pizzeria Ricci near the new town center is highly rated. Birra Raffo is the local beer.
Transport
Taranto railway station connects to major Italian cities via Eurostar. Closest airports are Brindisi (70 km) and Bari (100 km) with budget European flights.
Weather
Mediterranean climate with hot, windy summers (26°C avg) and mild, rainy winters (rare snow, min 4°C). Best visited May-June or September-October.