Province of Taranto

Province of Taranto
Name	Taranto
Native name	Provincia di Taranto
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Capital	Taranto
Area km2	2445
Population	581000
Population as of	2016
Communes	29
Established	1923

Province of Taranto is a former administrative division in the Apulia region of southern Italy, centered on the city of Taranto. The area includes coastal zones on the Ionian Sea, inland plains of the Murgia, and archaeological sites tied to ancient Magna Graecia. The province hosted mixed industrial, agricultural, and maritime activities linked to ports such as Porto di Taranto and historic centers like Martina Franca and Grottaglie.

Geography

The province occupied part of the Salento and the northern edge of the Taranto Gulf on the Ionian Sea, bordering the provinces of Bari, Brindisi, Matera, and Crotone. Major geographic features included the Taranto Gulf, the Murgia plateau, the Ippazio Hills near Massafra, the coastal wetlands of the Riserva naturale orientata Stornara e Sughereta, and river systems such as the Bradano and Leporo. Protected areas incorporated parts of the Regional Natural Park of the Murgia Materana and marine habitats adjacent to the Gulf of Taranto. Notable transport corridors passed through the SS106 coastal route, the A14 motorway connection toward Bologna, and the Taranto railway station junction linking to Bari Centrale and Reggio Calabria Centrale.

History

Settlement in the area dates to prehistoric and classical eras with evidence from sites such as Manduria and Castellaneta. The city of Taranto (ancient Taras) was a major polis of Magna Graecia and contested during the Pyrrhic War, later incorporated into the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. During the medieval period the territory experienced rule by the Byzantine Empire, the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, the Hohenstaufen dynasty, and the Angevins. The early modern era saw influence from the Spanish Empire and the Kingdom of Naples, while the 19th century brought integration into the Kingdom of Italy after the Expedition of the Thousand and events connected to the Risorgimento. In the 20th century industrialization expanded around the Arsenale di Taranto and the Ilva steelworks, with wartime actions including the Battle of Taranto (1940) and postwar reconstruction tied to policies from Giovanni Giolitti-era reformers and later national development plans.

Government and administration

Administrative functions historically centered in the city of Taranto as provincial capital under the prefecture system and an elected provincial council. Local municipalities included notable comuni such as Martina Franca, Grottaglie, Laterza, Massafra, Palagianello, Palagiano, Sava, San Giorgio Ionico, and Fragagnano. The province coordinated with regional authorities of Apulia and national ministries in Rome including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Environment on planning, environmental remediation, and cultural heritage linked to institutions like the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio.

Economy

Economic activity combined heavy industry, agriculture, shipping, and tourism. The Ilva steel plant and the historic Arsenale di Taranto supported metallurgical and naval employment, while the Port of Taranto handled freight and passenger services linked to the Mediterranean trade. Agriculture produced olive oil and wine in territories around Manduria and Martina Franca, with local products promoted under regional denominations and markets in Bari Centrale and Naples. Small and medium enterprises in ceramics in Grottaglie, textile workshops in Taranto, and food processing in Taranto and Massafra added to diversification. Environmental controversies over emissions from Ilva prompted interventions by national courts including rulings involving the Italian Constitutional Court and remediation programs coordinated with the European Union and the World Health Organization for public health measures.

Demographics

Population centers included the city of Taranto and towns such as Martina Franca, Grottaglie, Massafra, and Laterza. Demographic trends reflected urbanization during 20th-century industrial expansion and later migration to larger northern cities like Milan, Turin, and Rome for employment. Religious and civic life centered on diocesan structures such as the Archdiocese of Taranto and cultural institutions like the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Taranto. Educational institutions serving the area included campuses affiliated with the University of Bari and technical institutes linked to maritime training at the Accademia Navale in Livorno for specialized programs.

Culture and landmarks

Cultural heritage included ancient Greek and Roman remains, medieval architecture, and Baroque town centers in Martina Franca and Grottaglie. Landmarks comprised the Taranto Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Cataldo), the Aragonese Castle, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Taranto (MARTA), and the archaeological parks at Saturo and Metaponto. Festivals and traditions featured events connected to the Holy Week in Taranto, the Notte della Taranta influence across Salento, and agricultural fairs in Manduria promoting Primitivo wines and Apulian olive oil. Craft industries included ceramic workshops in Grottaglie, the craft pottery tradition tied to Taranto workshops, and historic culinary specialties such as polpo alla pignata and products from local markets like those near Piazza Garibaldi.

Category:Provinces of Italy (historical)