Welcome to Taranto

The once-mighty Greek-Spartan colony of Taras is, today, a city of two distinct parts – a mildewed centro storico on a small artificial island protecting a lagoon (the Mar Piccolo), and a swankier new city replete with wide avenues laid out in a formal grid. The contrast between the two is sudden and sharp: the diminutive old town with its muscular Aragonese castle harbours a downtrodden, almost derelict air, while the larger new city is busier, plusher and bustling with commerce.

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Not generally considered to be on the tourist circuit, Taranto is rimmed by modern industry, including a massive steelworks, and is home to Italy’s second biggest naval base after La Spezia. Thanks to an illustrious Greek and Roman history, it has been bequeathed with one of the finest Magna Graecia museums in Italy. For this reason alone, it’s worth a stopover.

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Top experiences in Taranto

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Taranto activities

$46.20 Sightseeing Tickets & Passes

Researchers for a day Admission Ticket

Visit: Jonian Dolphin Conservation, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliaYou will actively participate in sailing on board our brand new boats, designed and built specifically to help guests get involved in conservation activities for the protection of cetaceans that have lived in these waters for over 4,000 years.

$199.80 Cultural & Theme Tours

Taranto walking tour: the town of the two seas

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Taranto Catherdral - Duomo of San Cataldo, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliatarantoDuration: 30 minutesStop At: Castello AragonesetarantoDuration: 1 hourStop At: Tempio di Poseidon, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliatarantoDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Ponte Girevole, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliatarantoDuration: 15 minutes
$199.80 Cultural & Theme Tours

MarTa Archaeological Museum Taranto tour: very impressive great gold artifacts

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Museo Nazionale Archeologico, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliatarantoDuration: 2 hours
$216.54 Private & Custom Tours

Private tour Ruins of Herdonia (Ordona), the Pompei of Puglia still to be discovered

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Federico's Land -Tours, Trani, Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, PugliaLicensed guideDuration: 2 hoursStop At: SCAVI ARCHEOLOGICI DI HERDONIA (ORDONA), FOGGIA, PUGLIA, ITALY, Ordona, Province of Foggia, PugliaHerdoniaDuration: 2 hours
$229.83 Day Trips & Excursions

Full-Day Tour of Matera

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Antica Matera Casa Grotta, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataThis is a renovated cave home with period artifacts that gives the visitor a great sense of what life was like before its citizens were relocated out of the Sassi in the 1950s. Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Chiesa rupestre di Santa Lucia alle Malve, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataSanta Lucia alle Malve is a rupestrian church in Matera, an ancient monastery that welcomed Benedictine-order nuns between the 8th and 16th centuries.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Church of Santa Maria de Idris, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataThe Church of Santa Maria De Idris is located in the upper part of the rocky spur of Montirone (or Monterrone), near San Pietro Caveoso. The location is beautiful and offers a unique view of the city and the Gravina.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Sassi di Matera, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataWe'll begin our visit of the famous Sassi, a maze of cave dwellings that cover the lower part of this incredible city, which has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Matera is a city perched not only on top of these incredible cave dwellings, but also above a beautiful, dramatic ravine, with sweeping views over the landscape. Although there are buildings in ruins still, the city is vibrant with life and culture as many structures have been restored into beautiful cave hotels and restaurants. Duration: 2 hours
$138.59 Cultural & Theme Tours

Full day tour to Matera and Grottaglie

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Grottaglie, Taranto, Province of Taranto, PugliaThe first stop is Grottaglie after about 50 minutes driving from Lecce. The city is famous for its its colorful ceramics and here you'll enjoy some free time to discover the center. Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Matera Basilicata Foundation 2019Matera is the famous city of the Sassi and shows itself in all its ancient beauty. Here you will have plenty of time to visit the maze of narrow streets where worship and tradition create a unique atmosphere made up of churches and dwellings carved into the rock, the location of many famous films. Duration: 4 hours
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