Taranto on a cruise: what to do in a day
Located in Puglia, Taranto is a gem waiting to be discovered, and with Cruising Journal‘s guide, you’ll have the chance to discover the gems of this fantastic city!
Once you have left the ship, you will need to board one of the free shuttles provided by the port authority that will drop you off just outside the port, as the port of Taranto is not accessible on foot.
There are many tourist itineraries in Taranto, so you can decide to visit the city or take a bus to your favorite destination. In fact, as you leave the port and walk a few meters you will find plenty of buses offering itineraries outside the city of Taranto, such as the much sought-after Alberobello.
Alberobello Puglia
Alberobello Puglia
If you want to get to Alberobello, you should know that daily buses are organized that leave around 10/10:30 a.m. and at a cost of 25 euros with a one-hour trip take you directly to Alberobello, leaving you 3 hours of free time to get around independently.
But now let us devote ourselves to beautiful Taranto, which you can easily visit independently on foot, in fact from the merchant port walking about 500 meters you will have to cross the Via Napoli bridge and thus reach the old city.
Bridge of Porta Napoli
Arriving in the old city first stop is the 14th-century church of San Domenico Maggiore, continuing on Via Duomo you will glimpse the San Cataldo Cathedral of Taranto, the oldest in Taranto, with a Baroque-style facade and where you can also admire the famous Cappellone di San Cataldo. Continuing on Via Duomo you can also admire the remains of the Doric temple and then reach Taranto’s famous Aragonese Castle. Taranto’s Castel Sant’Angelo, better known as the Aragonese Castle is an imposing 15th-century complex that now houses the headquarters of the Italian Navy and is open for free guided tours every day.
church of San Domenico Maggiore
Cattedrale di San Cataldo
Aragonese Castle
Next, I recommend you reach the swing bridge, an imposing metal structure that connects the Old Town Island with the Borgo Nuovo. The swing bridge also “separates” the two seas on which Taranto lies, namely the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo. Cross the bridge and reach the Belvedere, a vantage point that offers a beautiful view of Taranto’s harbor and the “little sea.”
swing bridge Taranto
After finishing this tour you can continue on Via Matteotti and cross Piazza Garibaldi and then stroll down the shopping street, Via D’Aquino, where you will find many stores and bars. If you still have time to spare, you can delve even further into modern Taranto and visit The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MarTA), one of Italy’s most prestigious archaeological museums located 200 meters from Piazza Garibaldi, or the Gran Madre di Dio Co-Cathedral, be careful though! This modern building is 3 km from Piazza Garibaldi, but you can also reach it by public bus.
Gran Madre di Dio Co-Cathedral
Finally on the way back, as you re-enter the old city, I suggest you get lost in the city’s alleys or perhaps sample some typical products before returning to the ship!
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