Porto di Taranto (source: Visual Puglia )
A safe port since pre-classical times, thanks to its geographical position, as a closed sea and therefore sheltered from Mediterranean currents, the Gulf of Taranto became one of the leading landings and certainly one of the most famous. It reached is apex during the epoch of Magna Graecia, especially between the eighth and second centuries B.C. In fact, during this period, it was one of the main strategic centres of Greek politics on the Italian peninsula. The Mar Grande (Great Sea), encircled by the Cheradi Islands and by Capo San Vito and separated from the Mar Piccolo (Small Sea) by a cape that encloses it within a gulf, faces the man-made island that constitutes the original nucleus of the city, which is connected to the rest of the territory by the Bridge of Porta Napoli and the Ponte Girevole.The Mar Piccolo is considered an internal sea, divided into two inlets virtually separated by the Ponte Punta Penna Pizzone. Boats can dock in the Porto Mercantile (Commercial Port) or in one of the private landings in the Mar Grande.
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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