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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Taranto activities
Private tour Ruins of Herdonia (Ordona), the Pompei of Puglia still to be discovered
The ancient Roman city of Herdonia, discovered on a hill southwest of the current Ordona in 1962 by the archaeologist Joseph Mertens, is also known as the "Pompei of Puglia". It was the scene of two important battles during the Second Punic War and reached its peak in the Imperial age, thanks to its proximity to the important Via Traiana. Surviving the period of the barbarian invasions, Herdonia hosted one of the castles of Federico di Svevia in the thirteenth century. Later it was definitively abandoned around the XIV-XV century. The true return of the inhabitants began between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in an area close to the site of the ancient city;first a farm of Jesuits was born, and later one of the new five real colonial sites, wanted in the eighteenth century by King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon to repopulate and redevelop the agricultural area of the southern board. The archaeological excavations have brought to light significant elements of the ancient settlement: the perimeter walls are visible and on the west side the remains of the main door with square towers, with opus reticulatum coverings. In the central area there are a complex of brick and cross-linked buildings, the remains of two temples, a basilica, a forum, a circular market and the baths, while in the north-east there are the remains of a small amphitheater. Outside the walls there is a vast necropolis where several examples of ceramic dauna have been found in the museums of Foggia, Bari and Taranto.
Full-Day Tour of Matera
Detailed products descriptionsDeparture from your accomodation at 8.30 am, back at 6.00 pm.Travelling to the ancient city of Matera, recently elected European Capital of Culture of 2019. We will explore the fascinating Sassi district, where the people of Matera once lived in cave dwellings scooped out of the rocks. This incredible landscape has been the setting for many films including “The Last Passion of Christ”. Many chapels were also gouged out of the rock. As part of the tour we will visit some of these “Rupestrian” chapels and a museum.You’ll enjoy a great lunch at a typical restaurant (Falco Grillaio or Abbondanza) in the old town and afterwards visit the famous Sassi cave dwellings. In addition, you’ll have free time to explore the city at your leisure. We will pick you up from your Accommodation in Bari, Lecce, Taranto or Ostuni. You’ll travel in fully-equipped, private transport, and enjoy the service of an expert bilingual (English/Italian, Italian/Spanish) tour guide.
Private cooking class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Bari
Attend a private cooking class in the morning or in the afternoon: learn the secrets of the Bari recipes and have fun by learning how to reproduce the Italian specialties at home (3 hours)Connect with local people: meet the Cesarina at their home, you will receive the exact address once the booking is completed. Our Cesarine are located in Bari and its neighborhoods.Taste the fruit of your labour and experience the authentic flavors of Bari cuisineEnjoy a selection of red and white wines from Apulia cellars: our Cesarine offer only wines of the territory.Take the official Cesarine apron and shopping bag back home Bari and Apulia recipes: Succulent baked peppersStuffed auberginesStewed octopusAnchovies au gratinFried aubergine ballsTubettini (small pasta) tubes with musselsFava bean soup with chicoryOrecchiette pasta with tomato sauce and ricotta cheeseFresh pasta in a turkey broth, typical of Locorotondo inn the Valle d'ItriaCiceri e Tria (Tagliatelle with chick peas)Taiedda (Potato, vegetable and mussel bake)Orecchiette pasta with turnip topsLamb and peas stewPork’s bombette (Thin-cut slices of pork filled with cheese and other goodies)Roast lamb and potatoesStuffed courgette flowersMussel soup Taranto-styleGallipoli style fish soupTimbale of potatoes, rice, courgettes and musselsMini fried gnocchi with honey
Faggiano Museum Entrance Ticket
Visit: Museo FaggianoA guided tour of about one hour into a real archaeological site,now available to all thanks to the Cultural Association "Idume", founded by Luciano Faggiano which is the person in charge of the preservation and management of the museum. From 1000 to 1200 this place was a Templar home, and later, up to 1600 it was a Convent of Franciscan Nuns of Saint Clare's order. The excavation work brought to light tombs, granary, cisterns, hypogeums, a well, templar frescos, ossuary, underground escape ways, more then 5000 archaelogical finds and other incredible things. 2500 years of history, all just in one house. The discovery of this place is quite incredible. Everything started almost by chance: in 2001 Mr. Luciano Faggiano, the property owner, was forced to break the floor of the house in order to change the sewer pipes that were causing continuous problems of humidity. It was precisely during such work that unexpectedly began to re-emerge the first archaeological evidences. It then continued with a long excavation work, lasted 7 years, made by Luciano and his three sons (Marco, Andrea and Davide) and financed entirely by Faggiano's family, under the supervision of the Archaeological Superintendence of Taranto.