Things to see in Taranto

Taranto (Tarantino: Tarde) is a city on the Ionian coast of Apulia, in southeastern Italy. With 200,000 inhabitants it is the third-largest city of Southern Italy and the second-largest city of the region, after the capital Bari. Taranto is home of one of the most important naval bases in Italy and it boasts a thousand-year-old history, having been one of the most powerful cities of the Mediterranean during the Greek period.

Aragonese Castle. Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Cataldo). Free entry. Temple of Poseidon (Doric Temple), Piazza Castello. Two doric columns represent the remains of this ancient Greek temple, dedicated to the god of the seas. It dates to the 6th century BC and was unfortunately victim of spoliation during the centuries. Church of San Domenico Maggiore. Romanesque-Gothic church built in 1302 over the site of a Byzantine church of the 11th century, built, in turn, on an ancient Greek temple. The entry is reachable through a Baroque staircase erected in the 18th century. Free entry. National Archaeological Museum (MArTA). Spartan Museum (Museo Spartano). Via Marche necropolis. The largest funerary area of the ancient Greek polis: 140 burial sites from 7th to 3rd century BC visible from a walkway under a glass and iron roof. Via Pio XII Chamber tomb (Tomba a camera). Athlete's tomb (Tomba degli Atleti). Large chambered tomb with a quadrangular plan built and paved with carparo blocks during the 5th century BC, where have been collocated accurate replicas of the grave goods, mainly ceramic vases.