Taranto

Also known as Taras, Tarentum

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.

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: 185909
Italian comune.population_as_of: 2025
Italian comune.elevation_min_m: 3
Italian comune.elevation_max_m: 431
Italian comune.saint: Saint Catald of Taranto
Italian comune.day: 10 May
Italian comune.postal_code: 74121, 74122, 74123

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official name: Taranto
Demonym: tarantini
Population: 236400
Area: 249.86
Elevation: 15
Official website: www.comune.taranto.it
Image: Castello Aragonese(Taranto).JPG
Dialing code: 099
Licence plate code: TA

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Taranto
postal code: 74121-74122-74123
Commons gallery: Taranto
native label: Taranto
P8168: Tom Bunk
inception: 0706-00-00
P12749: 1911

Sources (9)

via Wikidata · CC0

~28 min read

Article

29 sections

Contents

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

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.