Taranto
Sign in to saveTaranto (; ), historically also called Tarent in English, is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Taranto, serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. With a population of 185,909 as of 2025, Taranto is the second-largest city in Apulia.
AI overview
Taranto is a coastal city in Southern Italy that serves as both a major commercial port and the primary base for the Italian Navy. As the capital of its province and the second-largest city in the Apulia region, it plays a significant role in Italy's maritime commerce and military operations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Italian comune.name
- Taranto
- Italian comune.official_name
- Comune di Taranto
- Italian comune.image_flag
- Taranto-Bandiera.svg
- Italian comune.image_caption
- From the top, left to right: San Francesco de Paola Bridge and the Taranto Cathedral; City hall and the Aragon Castle; and the Palace of Government
- Italian comune.image_shield
- Taranto-Stemma.svg
- Italian comune.pushpin_label_position
- left
- Italian comune.region
- Apulia
- Italian comune.province
- Taranto (TA)
- Italian comune.frazioni
- Talsano, Lido Azzurro, Lama, San Vito, San Donato
- Italian comune.mayor
- Piero Bitetti
- Italian comune.area_total_km2
- 249.86
- Italian comune.population_total
Article
29 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Ancient art
- World War II
- The Taranto Prize (Premio Taranto)
- 2006 municipal bankruptcy
- Geography
- Big Sea and Little Sea
- Climate
- Demographics
- Dialect
- Environment
- Main sights
- Old city
- Education
- Cuisine
- Mussels of Taranto
- Sports
- 2026 Mediterranean Games
- Transport
- Rail
- Air
- Other
- Notable people
- Twin towns - sister cities
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
Taranto (; ), historically also called Tarent in English, is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Taranto, serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. With a population of 185,909 as of 2025, Taranto is the second-largest city in Apulia.
Founded by Spartans in the 8th century BC during the period of Greek colonisation, Taranto was among the most important poleis in Magna Graecia, becoming a cultural, economic and military power that gave birth to philosophers, strategists, writers and athletes such as Archytas, Aristoxenus, Livius Andronicus, Heracleides, Iccus, Cleinias, Leonidas, Lysis and Sosibius. By 500 BC, the city was among the largest in the world, with a population estimated up to 300,000 people. The seven-year rule of Archytas marked the apex of its development and recognition of its hegemony over other Greek colonies of southern Italy.