Taranto

As the heel of Italy is becoming more and more popular, Taranto, in all likelihood, is the destination of your next unforgettable holiday under the Italian sun.

Located along the longest coastline in mainland Italy, with a privileged position in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Taranto will take you to its fairy-tale scenery, extremely rich in history, stunning coastal landscapes and fabulous food. Thanks to its new Multipurpose Service Center that will be ready by the end of 2021, the Magna Grecia capital city is ready to host a passenger terminal to embark and disembark travelers visiting the Ionian City.

In addition to the airports of Bari and Brindisi – respectively situated at 90 and 75km from the Port of Taranto – the airport of Grottaglie is only 20km from Taranto and directly connected to the seaport thus providing the conditions to create cruise&fly packages to/from Taranto. Passengers arriving at the port of Taranto can easily reach, even on foot, a list of attractions that are worth a visit!

Taranto – founded in 706BC by Spartan warrior “Falanto” – became the capital of Magna Grecia, the cultural and commercial centre of a civilization envied by the Romans. The local Archaeological Museum houses several Greek artefacts whilst the Aragonese Castle – built in the 15th century – dominates the city skyline made unique by the Swing Bridge connecting the Old Town to the downtown area.

The gulf of Taranto is also a haven for dolphin watching as the coast offers a memorable experience to discover the natural environment combining scientific research and tourism activities. The surrounding area is also the ideal location for trekking, hiking and horse-riding, the perfect place for nature lovers to enjoy the enchanting ravines of the valley of Itria, a land dotted with many stunning masserie and dried stone-walls gently lapped by Mediterranean maquis.

In the many stunning masserie visitors will have the chance to take cooking classes and experience the Mediterranean lifestyle with tastings of olive oil and Primitivo red wine, produced in the town of Manduria.

An hour’s drive from Taranto is one of the most ancient cities in the world, Matera where the ancient cave houses “Sassi” (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are now being renovated and made into fancy boutique hotels.