Tourist information - Taranto
Taranto is a city and port, southern Italy, capital of Taranto Province, in Apulia Region, on the Gulf of Taranto. Taranto possesses an important naval base, with an arsenal and shipyards; chemical works; iron and steel foundries; and food-processing factories.
The city, established by Spartan immigrants about 708 BC, turned out to be the sovereign city of Magna Graecia, the Greek colonies in southern Italy. Although the Romans captured the city in 209 BC, their rule over the powerful city hasn't been firmly established until 272 BC. The Gothic wars left Taranto in the hands of the Byzantine Empire after AD 540. It was seized in 661 by the Lombards, and then taken by the Saracens. It was captured by Robert Guiscard, the Norman adventurer, in 1063. Afterwards it shared the fortunes of the kingdom of Naples.
Ljao/jan/1v21