Burrata di Andria pasta filata cheese with a heart of cream and stracciatella
A pasta filata shell around a heart of cream and stracciatella: burrata was born in Andria around 1920, IGP since 2016.
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The provincial coat of arms carries a scorpion — the shape Pyrrhus is said to have seen when he looked down on the city. Taranto became a province only in 1923, when the old district of Terra d'Otranto was broken up; it now ranks fourth in Apulia by population. Its 29 municipalities sit between the Ionian Sea to the south and the border with Basilicata to the west, with Bari to the north.
The city holds more than a third of the province's residents and is the natural base. Around it are not hamlets but mid-sized towns: Martina Franca toward the Bari and Brindisi line, Grottaglie and Manduria facing the Salento, Massafra, Castellaneta and Mottola on the belt climbing inland from the coast. Nothing is far; two or three days will do. This province does not sell itself, which is part of the appeal.
Towns in the province of Taranto
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29 towns
Avetrana Carosino Castellaneta Crispiano Faggiano Fragagnano Ginosa Grottaglie Laterza Leporano Lizzano Manduria Martina Franca Maruggio Massafra Monteiasi Montemesola Monteparano Mottola Palagianello Palagiano Pulsano Roccaforzata San Giorgio Ionico San Marzano di San Giuseppe Sava Statte Taranto Capital Torricella
The top 8 places in Taranto
Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →
1 🏰 Castles & palaces Castello Aragonese 📍 Taranto Castello Aragonese of Taranto, Byzantine fortress expanded in the 15th century, now a Navy base. 
2 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries cattedrale di San Cataldo 📍 Taranto Cathedral of San Cataldo in Taranto, the oldest in Puglia, of Byzantine origin from the 10th century. 
3 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries chiesa di Maria Santissima del Monte Carmelo 📍 Taranto Chiesa del Carmine in Taranto's Borgo Umbertino, attested since 1577 and rebuilt in neoclassical style in 1937. - 4 chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore Taranto · ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries
- 5 concattedrale Gran Madre di Dio Taranto · ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries
- 6 Cripta del Redentore Taranto · ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries
- 7 Museo archeologico nazionale di Taranto Taranto · 🖼️ Museums
- 8 Taranto Taranto · 🏺 Archaeological sites
Taranto and around, on the map
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
🍝 At the table: Puglia
✨ Puglia by theme
🏘️ Villages 7 🍷 Food & wine 7 🏖️ Seaside 7 🏛️ UNESCO heritage 2
Tours, tickets and experiences
Bookable on GetYourGuideProvince of Taranto
Upcoming events in Taranto
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Saint Martin, patron who gave the town the name «Franca» from 1310
📅 Every year, on 11 November; the summer patronal feast is held the first weekend after 4 July
Martina Franca celebrates Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Comasia on 11 November; the first settlement arose on Monte San Martino, while the adjective «Franca» was granted in 1310 by Philip I of Anjou, who recognised tax exemptions there.
Saint Thomas Becket, patron of the town of the rock-hewn churches
📅 Every year, on 29 December; the co-patroness Madonna del Carmine is celebrated on 15-16 July
Mottola celebrates Saint Thomas Becket on 29 December; co-patroness is the Madonna del Carmine, celebrated with processions and fireworks on 15 and 16 July. Saint Anthony of Padua is also celebrated on 12-13 June and the Madonna del Rosario on 12-13 October.
Saint Cyrus, patron of the town of the ravines and of ceramics
📅 Every year, on 31 January
Grottaglie celebrates Saint Cyrus on 31 January, in a town almost entirely carved into the tufa along the sides of its ravines, famous for centuries for its ceramic production.
Saint Tryphon, patron and town holiday on 11 February
📅 Every year, on 11 February, still a town holiday today
Pulsano celebrates Saint Tryphon on 11 February, still a town holiday today.