Taranto, the “city of two seas,” sits where the Ionian widens into the Mar Grande and curls into the sheltered Mar Piccolo. Founded as Taras by Spartan colonists around 706 BCE, it became a powerhouse of Magna Graecia; today its lanes still whisper with Greek, Roman, and Aragonese footprints.

Come for the luminous MarTa Archaeological Museum—famed for the opulent “Gold of Taranto”—and stay for the swing bridge vistas, raw-seafood traditions, and beachy daydreams. The Old Town (Città Vecchia) clings to an island, all stone vaults and sea breezes; Borgo Umbertino unfurls elegant 19th‑century boulevards, perfect for an evening passeggiata.

Practical notes: reserve tours at Castello Aragonese in advance and carry ID. Old Town streets include ZTL zones—park outside and walk. Summer sun is intense; plan midday breaks. Food is gloriously local: mussels (cozze tarantine), seafood crudo, orecchiette with cime di rapa, bombette, and Primitivo di Manduria.

Taranto

Taranto charms with contrasts: hulking naval history beside clear, fish‑filled waters, and a museum that rivals Italy’s best for Greek treasures. The Ponte Girevole (swing bridge) frames sunset over the rada; fishermen hawk urchins and mussels nearby.

• Top sights: MarTa Museum, Castello Aragonese, Ponte Girevole, Old Town lanes and churches, Borgo Umbertino colonnades, and the seafront Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele III.
• Hands-on culture: Grottaglie’s ceramics quarter, masserie (farmsteads) for cheese and pasta, and boat trips in dolphin‑frequented waters.
• Flavors to seek: seafood crudo platters, cozze arraganate (baked mussels), tiella riso patate e cozze, orecchiette, and almond‑laced pasticciotti.

Where to stay (central and coastal picks):

• Borgo Umbertino for walkable dining, museums, and the lungomare.
• Città Vecchia for atmospheric stone houses and harbor views.
• Lama/San Vito coast for a quieter, beach‑adjacent base.

Browse stays on VRBO Taranto or compare hotels on Hotels.com Taranto. Aim for sea‑view rooms along the lungomare or a stone‑vaulted suite in the Old Town.

Getting to Taranto (use Omio flights and Omio trains/buses):

• Bari (BRI) to Taranto: train via Bari Centrale ~1h45–2h, about €11–17; bus ~1h40, about €9–13.
• Brindisi (BDS) to Taranto: train ~1h10–1h30, about €7–12; bus ~1h20, about €6–10.
• Rome to Taranto: Intercity/Freccia services ~5–6h, about €29–65.

Day 1: Arrival, the Old Town, and Sea-Born Flavors

Morning: Travel toward Taranto. From Bari or Brindisi airports, check Omio trains for the fastest regional runs; buses on Omio can be cheaper if you’re carrying light. If you’re driving, avoid ZTL in Città Vecchia and park near the lungomare.

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs along Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele III to the Ponte Girevole—if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the bridge opening for naval traffic. Cross into the Old Town and circle the Castello Aragonese exterior; tours are run by the Navy (book ahead, slots fill fast). For a breezy orientation with photo stops and stories, hop an hourlong ride on the iconic three‑wheeler:

Private Tour of Taranto aboard an Ape Calessino

Coffee break ideas: grab an espresso and a pasticciotto at Martinucci on/near Via d’Aquino, the city’s grand shopping axis.

Evening: Start your Puglia tasting with seafood. Try Ristorante Al Canale (near the swing bridge) for cozze tarantine, tiella riso‑patate‑cozze, and a plate of seafood crudo, or book Al Gatto Rosso for a classic mixed grill and octopus “alla pignata.” For dessert, stroll back to Via d’Aquino for gelato (pistachio and almond ricotta are local favorites). Nightcap along the lungomare as ferries and fishing boats trace lights on the water.

Day 2: Greek Gold at MarTa, Grottaglie Ceramics, and Puglian Pasta

Morning: Breakfast with a view—caffè and cornetto along the lungomare—then dive into one of Italy’s most compelling museums. The MarTa Archaeological Museum chronicles the ascent of Taras: bronzes, vases, votives, and the famous Hellenistic jewelry known as the “Gold of Taranto.” Go with a guide to illuminate context and hidden details:

MarTa Archaeological Museum Taranto tour: very impressive great gold artifacts

Lunch suggestions: in Borgo Umbertino, seek cozy seafood trattorie for spaghetti alle vongole, fried paranza (mixed small fish), and local white wines like Verdeca or Fiano Minutolo. If you prefer something quick, grab a warm puccia (Puglian bread) stuffed with capocollo and grilled vegetables.

Afternoon: Head to nearby Grottaglie (approx. 20–25 minutes by car; regional trains/buses via Omio take ~30–45 minutes) to wander the Quartiere delle Ceramiche—a warren of workshops carved into tufa. Try a hands‑on session to spin your own bowl or mug, a memorable keepsake:

Modelling your clay dreams, Potter's wheel workshop in Grottaglie

Return to Taranto via the scenic provincial road as the Ionian light softens.

Evening: Dinner in the Old Town under stone arches. Look for menus featuring orecchiette alle cime di rapa, bombette (grilled pork rolls), and hearty braciole al sugo with a glass of Primitivo di Manduria. For something sweet, try almond semifreddo or a warm pasticciotto. Post‑dinner, join the passeggiata on Via d’Aquino and pause for an amaro or a spritz.

Day 3: On the Water, Tiny Beaches, and Farewell

Morning: Meet at the marina (Molo Sant’Eligio area) for a few hours afloat—cruise both seas, skim past the Cheradi islets, and keep an eye out for dolphins that frequent these waters. Flex your sea legs on a small‑group outing:

Boat fishing, boat tours, boat party

Back on land, snack on a still‑warm panzerotto or a quick puccia before packing up.

Afternoon: Departure window. Trains to Bari or Brindisi airports run roughly hourly; check Omio for the next departures (1h10–2h; budget €7–17). If driving north toward Valle d’Itria, plan an espresso stop in Martina Franca before the autostrada.

Evening: If you’re lingering one more night, toast your trip with Puglian reds (Primitivo, Negroamaro) and a plate of taralli. Detour to a lido at San Vito or Lido Gandoli for sunset feet‑in‑the‑sand, then make your way back along the lungomare lights.

Good to know: For stays, compare VRBO Taranto and Hotels.com Taranto. For transport, use Omio flights, trains, and buses. Book key experiences early in peak season.

Optional add-on experiences (if you extend your stay):

• Cheese tasting at a masseria with live mozzarella and burrata making: Mozzarella Experience - Cheese Tour and tastings to Masseria Fragnite

  

In three days, Taranto reveals layers: Spartan legends, fortress stones, glinting museum gold, and the living culture of fishers, potters, and cooks. You’ll leave with salt on your skin, a taste for Primitivo, and a deeper feel for Puglia’s Ionian side.