Attractions

  • Castello Aragonese (Taranto)

    Address:
    Castello Aragonese, Piazza Castello, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    The Castello Aragonese is a fortification in Taranto, Italy. Officially called the Castel San Angelo, it was built on the site of older fortifications dating to Greek occupation in the third and fourth centuries BC. In 1481 the low ground in front of the fortification site was excavated to allow the passage of boats, and to create a moated defensive position. The present fortress was built for the then-king of Naples, Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1496 to reinforce the naturally low-lying link between the old town of Taranto on a peninsula, and the mainland. The seven-towered design is attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini of Siena. The fortress repelled an Ottoman attack in 1594, but it quickly lost its military significance with the advent of artillery. It was converted to an artillery platform and many interior spaces were filled in to provide a stable base for the guns. In 1707 under the Habsburgs it was converted to a prison however during the Napoleonic period it reverted to its original function as a military fortress. French generals Thomas-Alexandre Dumas and Jean-Baptiste Felix de Manscourt du Rozoy were the most illustrious prisoners of the castle having been taken prisoner in 1799 by the pro-Bourbon Sanfedismi when their damaged ship sought refuge at Taranto Harbour. At the time, Taranto was part of the Kingdom of Naples.
     

  • National Archaeological Museum of Taranto

    Address:
    National Archaeological Museum of Taranto-Marta, Via Cavour, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto ( MArTA ) is an Italian state museum . It exhibits one of the largest collections of artifacts dating back to the Magna Graecia era , including the famous gold of Taranto .

    It is owned by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities , which since 2014 has counted it among the museum institutes with special autonomy.

  • Taranto Cathedral

    Address:
    Taranto Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Taranto Cathedral (Italian: Cattedrale di San Cataldo) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Taranto, Apulia, Italy, dedicated to Saint Catald. It is the archiepiscopal seat of the Archdiocese of Taranto.

  • Brindisi Airport

    Address:
    Aeroporto del Salento, Contrada Baroncino, Brindisi, BR, Italy .

    Brindisi Airport, also known as Brindisi Papola Casale Airport and Salento Airport, is an airport in Brindisi, located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city center.

  • Hospital (Ospedale Santissima Annunziata)

    Address:
    Ospedale Santissima Annunziata, Via Francesco Bruno, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Main hospital in Taranto.

  • Navy Petty-Officers School (Scuola Sottufficiali Marina Militare)

    Address:
    Scuola Sottufficiali Marina Militare Taranto, Largo Lorenzo Bezzi, San Vito, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Navy Petty-Officers School.

  • Air Force Volunteers Academy (SVAM Scuola Volontari Aeronautica Militare)

    Address:
    SVAM Scuola Volontari Aeronautica Militare, Via Mario Rondinelli, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Air Force Volunteers Academy

  • Martina franca

    Address:
    Martina Franca, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    A charming town in the province of Taranto, famous for the Baroque art of its countless churches and the famous "trulli". The cousine is important too: Martina Franca is famous for grilled meat ("bombette" that are stuffed meat skewers) and capocollo, a typical salami.

  • Railway Station

    Address:
    Piazza della Libertà, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Railway station of Taranto

  • Co-cathedral Great Mother of God

    Address:
    Via Monsignore Blandamura, 7, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    Splendid Co-cathedral built by Maestro Giò Ponti in 1967. The structure, combining the religious aspect with the maritime tradition of the city, represents a sail that is reflected in the water of the three pools in front of the entrance, which symbolize the sea. The apsidal painting of the Annunciation is by the same architect Giò Ponti.

  • litoranea salentina

    Address:
    Via Litoranea Salentina, Leporano Marina, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    The Litoranea Salentina, reachable from our hotel in a few minutes, offers a series of beaches characterized by both rocks and thin golden sand and a splendid and crystalline sea. It is possible to take advantage of both public beaches and private equipped beaches.

  • Matera

    Address:
    Matera, Province of Matera, Italy .

    Matera is a city located on a rocky outcrop in Basilicata, reachable in about 40 minutes from Taranto. Famous for its "Sassi", a complex of cave houses dug into the mountain, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and for the rock churches that can be visited. It was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

  • Laterza

    Address:
    Laterza, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    The town of Laterza in the province of Taranto is known for its bread with its fragrant and unmistakable crust, its imposing ravine, one of the longest and largest in Europe, and majolica.

  • Grottaglie

    Address:
    Grottaglie, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    Municipality in the province of Taranto, known for the production of artistic ceramics famous all over the world. it is also known as the "city of ceramics" and is located in the valley of the southern Murgia, on the border with the province of Brindisi.

  • Spartan hypogeum

    Address:
    Museo Ipogeo Spartano di Taranto, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    The Spartan hypogeum museum of Taranto is the third most visited historical structure in the city, after the Aragonese Castle and the Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia (MARTA). Former hypogeum of the Beaumont-Bonelli palace, it is located on the Borgo Antico island of Taranto. In it all the historical periods are documented starting from the foundation of Taranto by the Spartans in the VIII century. BC, until the seventeenth century. A.D. date of construction of the Beaumont Bonelli noble palace above. The Hypogeum reaches 16m below the road level and 4m below sea level. It can be visited thanks to the guided tours organized by the Filonide association.

  • Doric Temple

    Address:
    Piazza Castello, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    The temple of Poseidon or Doric temple, is located in today's Piazza Castello in the historic center of Taranto. It turns out to be the oldest in Magna Graecia. The two Doric columns are the only remains that bear witness to the temple together with a base with 3 drums made of carparo, a material similar to the local tuff. Some remains have been identified in the cloister and in the cellars of the church of San Michele which is the background to the ruins next to the city palace, the others have probably been looted over the centuries or reused in other buildings.

  • MUDI - Diocesan Museum

    Address:
    Vicolo I Seminario, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

    Set up in the premises of the sixteenth-century Archiepiscopal Seminary of Taranto in the old city, the MUDI is spread over 4 floors: basement with the remains of an ancient iapigio village, 1 floor with auditorium and multifunctional library and 2 upper floors divided into thematic sections. The exhibition contains over 300 works ranging from sacred furnishings, relics, paintings and sculptures of exceptional cultural and religious value. Among the main works preserved are the golden cross found on the chest of San Cataldo, patron saint of the city and the Topaz of King Ferdinand II, the largest ever sculpted from the 11th century.

  • Historic center

    Address:
    Città Vecchia, Taranto, Italy .

    The historic center of Taranto, simply Taranto Vecchia for the people of Taranto, has been the heart of the city since the times of Magna Graecia. It is an island connected to the rest of the city by two bridges: Girevole and San Francesco (or stone) and present winding alleys, tunnels, typical fishermen's houses, as well as the San Cataldo Cathedral, the Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to San Domenico Maggiore, the church of Sant'Andrea degli Armeni who stayed here during the Turkish assaults, other churches of very important historical and artistic importance and sixteenth and eighteenth century noble palaces. Of international importance are the birthplace of composer Giovanni Paisiello and Mario Costa, lyricist of the most beautiful songs of the Neapolitan melodic tradition. Here the Jonico University Campus was born, whose main office is located in the former Rossarol barracks (in turn a former Franciscan convent) and it is possible to visit the MuDi (diocesan museum), the underground hypogea, the sea museum located in the Pantaleo noble palace , buy souvenirs in small artisan shops and eat excellent freshly caught fish, but above all seafood and the queen of Taranto mythiculture, known and famous all over the world, the mussel.

  • University - Polo Jonico

    Address:
    Via Duomo, 259, Taranto, TA, Italy .

     

    Branch of the University of Bari, with several active faculties. The main office is located inside the former Rossarol barracks, an old former Franciscan convent in the old city. Soon new opening of further faculties at the Bank of Italy building a few steps from our hotel.

  • carabinieri students school

    Address:
    Via Umberto Cagni, 2, 74121 Taranto, TA, Italy .

     

    In the newly established Carabinieri School of Taranto, inside the "Ignazio Castrogiovanni" Barracks (formerly the headquarters of Maricentro), the pupils of the Carabinieri carry out operations of incorporation, logistic arrangement and dressing. The detachment of the Scuola Allievi Carabinieri is destined to become the largest school in Italy with, when fully operational, more than a thousand students.

  • Jonian dolphin conservation

    Address:
    Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 1, 74123 Taranto, TA, Italy .

    Jonian Dolphin Conservation is a scientific research association aimed at the study of cetaceans of the Gulf of Taranto in the Northern Ionian Sea. Deep connoisseurs of the marine environment in its most disparate aspects, the members of our working group put their experiences and attitudes at the disposal of research understood in the deepest sense of the term. The goal of protecting the cetaceans of the Gulf of Taranto can only be achieved by creating awareness among the population that cetaceans still exist in our sea. Such awareness can only be achieved by creating knowledge. J.D.C. specializes in the management of marine projects with a particular focus on the study of environmental impact; carries out the design and management of visual and acoustic Marine Mammals Surveys with specialized equipment and personnel; he has made documentaries and set up exhibition spaces for exhibitions and events on the themes of safeguarding the marine environment; carries out dolphin watching activities involving tourists and citizens on board its BOATS; carries out, in cooperation with other bodies / institutes, research activities at sea, using nautical vessels equipped with depth sounder, multiparameter probes, HD photo video recording systems, hydrophones for bioacoustic studies conducts sighting campaigns and scientific research on cetaceans aimed at lower and upper secondary school students; realizes professional courses such as Marine Mammals Observer and Whale Watchers operators.

  • Manduria

    Address:
    Manduria, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    The town is located in the northern Salento, known as the "City of the Messapi" and the "Primitivo Wine". Very famous is the production of "primitivo" red wine. The historic center full of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque churches and a splendid sea. To report the hamlet of San Pietro in Bevagna with the Chidro river that flows directly into the sea and Torre Colimena, a tourist area that takes its name from the present tower and together with the Saline, has been promoted to a protected marine area.

  • villa Peripato - Peripato Garden

    Address:
    Via Pitagora, 71, Taranto, TA, Italy .

    The name Villa Peripato refers to the Aristotelian Peripatetic school (from the Greek perìpatos, a place where one walks), of which the Tarantino philosopher and mathematician Archita was an illustrious exponent; the teacher held his lessons walking and discussing with the students. The Villa Peripato constitutes an indisputable archaeological reserve, as it preserves the share of ancient footfall, relating to the ruralization phase of the spaces already occupied by the Greek and Roman city. The existing plant species belong to the indigenous flora. The dominant level - tall trees - is mainly made up of Aleppo pine, but there are also holm oaks, siliquasters, plane trees, lime trees and cypresses. More recently, some exotic essences have been introduced including palms, alianto, locust trees, cedar, magnolias, horse chestnuts, the false pepper tree and cypresses of American origin.

  • Teatro Fusco

    Address:
    Via Ciro Giovinazzi, 49, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    After a long period of decay, the Fusco Theater reopens in the heart of the city of Taranto. The theater can hold up to 456 spectators and uses the most advanced technologies in terms of acoustics and scenography.

  • Teatro Orfeo

    Address:
    Via Pitagora, 80, Taranto, Province of Taranto, Italy .

     

    Film, prose and music shows in a 1915 building with seating and standing boxes. Near the Villa Peripato gardens.