Guide to Taranto
Taranto is a city with a dual nature, both ancient and modern. The dividing line is the bridge that separates the historic 19th-century old town from modern Taranto, a mix of modernity and cutting-edge architecture.
Taranto is known as the city of two seas, due to its geographical position between the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo. Along the 140 kilometers of the Taranto province's coastline, you'll find breathtaking beaches and reserves. We have created a guide on what to see in Taranto and its surroundings in one or more days.
What to See in Taranto
Your visit to the city must begin in the Old Town of Taranto, a concentration of art and beauty that holds significant traces of its ancient and important past, with the beautiful Aragonese Castle prominently standing at the end of it, on a small island in the sea. The castle is open to visitors for free every day.
Get lost among the narrow streets of the historic center, a maze of alleys and squares where you will find incredible palaces, magnificent churches, and where you can breathe an atmosphere of days gone by. Make a stop at the Cathedral of San Cataldo, which is the oldest church in Puglia. Taranto was also the Capital of Magna Graecia, and you can still see remains of its ancient past in what remains of the Temple of Poseidon (which was built even before Syracuse) in Piazza Castello. Don't miss a visit to the Cathedral of San Cataldo, a medieval wonder that holds the remains of Saint Cataldo.
Not far from there, the Church of San Domenico, built on the remains of a Greek temple, is worth a visit. If you want to know the history of the city, don't miss a visit to the Archaeological Museum, MArTA, located inside the old Convent of the Alcantarins.
Reach Via Cavour where you will find the magnificent hidden church, San Francesco da Paola al Borgo: it is a small treasure that absolutely deserves a visit; it is located at Via Cavour 51.
The swing bridge of Taranto marks the border (and at the same time connects) between the old city and the new one. It is an impressive steel structure located over a navigable canal that connects the Mar Piccolo and the Mar Grande, and finally enjoy the sunset along the city's waterfront.
Before leaving the city, visit the dolphins on the Cheradi Islands (San Pietro and Paolo), which can be easily reached by boat from the port of Taranto. San Pietro Island is larger and more expansive, while the smaller San Paolo Island hosts Fort Laclos, a Napoleonic fort built in 1801, located on the access road to Mar Grande.
What to See in Taranto in One Day
- Aragonese Castle
- Swing Bridge
- Remains of the Temple of Poseidon
- Cathedral of San Cataldo
- Archaeological Museum - MArTA
- Church of San Francesco da Paola al Borgo
- Old Taranto
- Vittorio Emanuele III Waterfront
- Complex of San Domenico Maggiore
- Monastery of San Michele
- Cheradi Islands
- Palazzo de Beaumont
- Underground Taranto
What to See in Taranto with Kids
Taranto is one of the best destinations for going to the beach with kids; along the coast there are some of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia. The shorelines are long and sandy, and the sea is crystal clear and shallow.
Don't miss a visit to the old town of Taranto and the Aragonese Castle, then stop by the city's Archaeological Museum. And don't forget that Taranto is the city of dolphins. Board a catamaran from the Jonian Dolphin Conservation association to see them up close, near the Cheradi Islands.
What to See in Taranto and Surroundings
- San Pietro in Bevagna
- Gravine of Taranto
- Manduria
- Grottaglie
- Dancing House
- Crispiano
- Martina Franca
- Pulsano
- Leporano
- Massafra
- Monteparano
Beaches of Taranto
- Mouth of the Chidro River
- San Pietro in Bevagna
- Castellaneta Marina
- Marina di Pulsano
- Marina di Leporano
- Torre Colimena
- Marina di Taranto
- Torre Ovo
- Monks' Salt Marsh
- Ginosa Marina
Map and Chart
Below you will find the map with the best attractions in Taranto