Sights in Taranto
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Palazzo Pantaleo
Carry on down Via Duomo and take a left onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Here you'll find the Palazzo Pantaleo , the temporary home of the city's archaeological collection. We say 'temporary' but the edited selection of artefacts on display has actually been here for seven years now. Still, it's certainly worth the visit as it exhibits the most sophisticated works of Magna Graecia that you're likely to see anywhere in Puglia.
Particularly fine are the ceramics, which Taranto precociously developed in its potteries during the 4th century and sold throughout the Greek world. There are lots of Corinthian and Laconian ceramics, but the best pieces are the superb black-and-red…
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Castello Aragonese
Although Taranto’s medieval town centre is rundown, it is gradually being tastefully renovated and has a gritty and vibrant atmosphere. It is perched on the small island dividing the Mar Piccolo (Small Sea; an enclosed lagoon) and the Mar Grande (Big Sea). This peculiar geography means that blue sea and sky surround you wherever you go. Guarding the swing bridge that joins the old and new parts of town, the 15th-century Castello Aragonese is an impressive structure, currently occupied by the Italian navy.
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Museo Nazionale Archeologico
The superb Museo Nazionale Archeologico is one of Italy’s most important archaeological museums, and houses, among other ancient artefacts, the largest collection of Greek terracotta figures in the world. Also exhibited in this brand-new museum space are fine collections of 1st-century-BC glassware, classic black-and-red Attic vases and stunning jewellery such as a 4th-century-BC bronze and terracotta crown.
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Centro Culturale Filonide
A fun place to visit is the Centro Culturale Filonide, an eccentric non-profit-making cultural centre located in a renovated 17th-century palace. Its painted salons are full of old furniture and interesting bric-a-brac that gives a fascinating glimpse into how grand the old town must once have been.
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Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore
After the Palazzo Pantaleo you won't feel like doing much more but you might wander past the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore, with its high baroque double staircase, and head down to Piazza Fontana, once the commercial heart of the city but now a scruffy roundabout.
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Maggiore
After the Palazzo Pantaleo you won't feel like doing much more but you might wander past the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore, with its high baroque double staircase, and head down to Piazza Fontana, once the commercial heart of the city but now a scruffy roundabout.
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Cathedral
The 11th-century cathedral is one of Puglia’s oldest Romanesque buildings and is an extravagant treat. It’s dedicated to San Cataldo; the Capella di San Cataldo is a baroque riot of frescoes and polychrome marble inlay.
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Palazzo del Governo
Taranto's new town is a pleasant surprise. It has a truly urbane atmosphere, with sleek shopping streets shooting off the impressive palm-planted Piazza Garibaldi which is dominated by the gigantic rust-red 1920s Palazzo del Governo .
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Giardini Comunale Peripato
A short walk down Via Cavour will bring you to the Giardini Comunale Peripato, a formal 18th-century garden that now makes a lovely city park complete with a children's play area and great views over the Mar Piccola.
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Fishing Port
At Piazza Fontana you'll find the small fishing port where you can buy piles of ricci (sea urchins) or shiny-looking mussels harvested from the Mar Piccola.
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Temple of Poseidon
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