Taranto Aragon Castle (source: Visual Puglia )
The Aragon castle in Taranto, known as Castel Sant’Angelo, overlooking the sea is a splendid construction designed by the architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini from Siena on commission by Ferdinand of Aragon towards the end of the XV century. The King of Naples’ project was to construct a defence castle. The castle was built on the foundation of a Norman-Suevian-Angionian structure created by the Normans to defend the city, even if the original court dates back to the Byzantines, who built a fortress to protect themselves against the Saracens. The distinctive towers are of particular interest with their large and low dimensions that compose the castle and emphasise its fortification function. The castle was also used as a jail under the Augsburgs and is currently the office of the Navy.
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Taranto and its province have their most ancient roots in rock settlements and Greek culture. Two civilizations which developed well in this area of Southern Apulia thanks the conformation of a land once rich in water and very fertile, so much that Greek settlers were attracted by it and founded Taranto in 706 b.C. The presence of water courses, now flowing underground, is also witnessed by the several caves and creeks one can see in this area. A result of erosion, they are an ideal scenario for the development of those rock-settlement civilizations that spread over the whole region and particularly in Taranto area. Today, this province show a slightly sharper aspect in its inland, sandy sea beds and limpid sea in Taranto Gulf area. Ancient civilizations are still visible in the charm of wonderful landscapes included in natural settings.
In Taranto Murge there are deep ravines resulting from the action of ancient rivers as well as several karstic caves where a flourishing rock-settlement civilization rose since prehistory. Often a haven for shepherds and peasants, these same caves were used in Middle Ages as a place of worship by Basilian monks. Traces and witnesses of rock settlements, hypogeous hamlets and frescoed walls can be seen near Mottola and Massafra
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In Taranto province inland area, characterized by a green landscape, olive groves and vineyards, there are several small towns like Manduria or Grottaglie, which roots can be found in ancient Messapi civilization. These towns often offer very interesting archeological and naturalistic parks
The Ionian coast is characterized by wide beaches and a limpid water sloping gently into deepness. Cities such as Taranto, also known as the "city of two seas" stand over this coast, and Pulsano with their tourist vocation and famous local food
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia