TARANTO | APULIA

Discover Taranto

Taranto, a provincial capital in Puglia, is first of all a major maritime city situated on the gulf of the same name. In antiquity Taranto was one of the richest cities of Magna Grecia. Besides the architectural beauty of its historic centre, such as the Cathedral, it is also a city of museums. Visit the Oceanographic Museum and also the Museo del Sottosuolo (biology, geology, palaeontology). Noteworthy too is the archaeological section in the National Museum of Taranto.

Lush countryside surrounds Taranto, its products the work of the people who have always lived there. Taste the pork brawn accompanied by local wines such as Cerasuolo or Primitivo.
Visit the ancient caves of Massafra, which overlooks a ravine. Massafra contains a series of very important Basilian crypts. This area is part of the Murge plateau, from high points there is a wonderful view of the gulf and the Mar Piccolo.

From Massafra you can reach the imposing castle that dominates above. Castellaneta is another town that overlooks a wide ravine. Right on the edge of the ravine stands Castellaneta Cathedral, which has a very beautiful eighteenth-century wooden ceiling.
Taranto is a province of ravines. In fact, Palagianello, located a few kilometres away, is near another ravine. Many ‘crypt-churches’ have been dug into the ravine.
Gioia del Colle, Gravina and Altamura are other wonderful places to visit on a journey through Taranto province.
The whole area around these charming towns is full of crops. The main crops are cereals: small grains that have always enriched Taranto and its people’s traditions.