landmark
Alberobello Trulli
A UNESCO-listed town in Puglia containing over 1,500 trulli, unique whitewashed stone huts with conical dry-stone roofs.
36 km · about 40 min drive
Apulia, Italy · Europe
Taranto sits on the route: 15 minutes from Paolo VI, 46km from Castellana Grotte.
Taranto is a city located in Apulia, Italy. With a population of 198,585, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Taranto sits in Italy, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Rome time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Taranto to your route.
Taranto (Italian: [ˈtaːranto] ; Tarantino: Tarde), 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 isRead more
the second-largest city in Apulia.
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.
During the Norman period, it became the capital of the Principality of Taranto, which covered almost all of the heel of Apulia.
Taranto is now the third-largest continental city in southern Italy (south of Rome, roughly the southern half of the Italian peninsula), with well-developed steel and iron foundries, oil refineries, chemical works, naval shipyards and food-processing factories. Taranto will host the 2026 Mediterranean Games.
The islets of S. Pietro and S. Paolo (St. Peter and St. Paul), collectively known as the Cheradi Islands, protect the bay, called Mar Grande (Big Sea), where the commercial port is located. Taranto is known for the large population of dolphins and other cetaceans living near these islands. Another bay, called Mar Piccolo (Little Sea), is formed by the peninsula of the old city and is a popular location for fishing.
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Taranto offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Taranto is located in Apulia, Italy, Europe. The coordinates are 40.4644 latitude, 17.2471 longitude.
Taranto has a population of approximately 198,585 people, making it a city in Italy.
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Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for Italy7 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
A UNESCO-listed town in Puglia containing over 1,500 trulli, unique whitewashed stone huts with conical dry-stone roofs.
36 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
The dazzling White City of Puglia, a hilltop labyrinth of whitewashed houses and narrow alleys overlooking ancient olive groves.
41 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
A spectacular system of underground caves in Puglia featuring the White Cave, a dazzling chamber of alabaster-white stalactites.
46 km · about 55 min drive
racetrack
A perfectly circular 12.6 km high-speed test track in Puglia, so large it is visible from space. Owned by Porsche, it is where manufacturers chase top-speed records at over 400 km/h.
51 km · about 60 min drive
ancient ruins
Two ancient cave-dwelling districts carved into the ravine of Matera, inhabited since the Paleolithic and now a UNESCO site.
58 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
A dramatic Puglian town perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic, with a famous beach nestled in a narrow sea cove.
59 km · about 70 min drive
landmark
An ancient city in Basilicata carved into limestone gorges, with cave dwellings (Sassi) continuously inhabited for over 9,000 years.
59 km · about 70 min drive
April to October
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