TARANTO
Taranto , known as “ the city of two seas ” sits in a strategic position between the Mar Grande ( Great Sea ) and the Mar Piccolo ( Small Sea ). This location has put it at the heart of important historical events . Taranto is the region Apulia , in southern Italy on the lonian Sea with a coast line of about 140 Km . The two seas are divided by two peninsulas , linked to the isle of the old town by the ancient Stone bridge and the modern Swing bridge . The province of Taranto includes 29 municipalites with a popolation of 580000 inhabitants Crossroad of different cultures . Taranto owes a lot to the Sea not only for its natural landscape but also fot its glorious history which has left its signs on this land . The Swing bridge is the symbol of Taranto . It connects the Old town to the New City and crosses the canal that connects the Mar Grande with the Mar Piccolo . The castle of Taranto rises on the edge of a natural depression of the rock bank on which the old city was built . This castle was the typical medieval fortress with many tall , narrow , square towers , suitable for the vertical defense . Known as “ MarTa ”, the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto , boasts one of Italy ’ s most important archaeological collections . Here you can admire the renowned “ Ori di Taranto ” ( Taranto ’ s golden treasure ), a series of refined gold pieces produced locally between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC , as well as a collection of archaeological finds from across the lonian province .
APULIAN CRAFTMANSHIP GROTTAGLIE
The art of the province of Taranto is tighly related to the land and the sea ; the local hand made pottery is decorated with images of plants , fruits , animals and the sea products which are so common for our life .
THE “ PUMO ”
It is the bud of a flower that wants to bloom , something that looks like an Easter egg and it symbolizes the birth and the luck .