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Province of Taranto

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Province of Taranto
Provincia di Taranto (Italian)
Provìnge de Tarde (Tarantino)
Provincia ti Tàrantu (Salentino)
Province
Flag of Province of Taranto
Flag
Coat of arms of Province of Taranto
Coat of arms
Location of the province of Taranto in Italy
Location of the province of Taranto in Italy
Country Italy
Region Apulia
Capital(s)Taranto
Municipalities29
Government
 • PresidentGianfranco Palmisano
Area
[1]
 • Total
2,467.35 km2 (952.65 sq mi)
Population
 (2026)[2]
 • Total
547,928
 • Density222.071/km2 (575.162/sq mi)
GDP
[3]
 • Total€9.780 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€16,655 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
74100
Telephone prefix099
Vehicle registrationTA
ISTAT code073

The Province of Taranto (Italian: provincia di Taranto; Tarantino: provìnge de Tarde; Salentino: provincia ti Tàrantu), previously known as the province of the Ionian, is a province in the region of Apulia in southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto. It has a population of 547,928 an area of 2,467.35 square kilometres (952.65 mi2) across its 29 municipalities.[2][1]

The coat of arms of the province contains a scorpion, which Pyrrhus is thought to have seen when looking down at Taranto.

History

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The Ionian Sea

When Italy was unified, the province of Lecce was formed; the western section of this later became the current province of Taranto.[4] On 23 September 1923, Taranto became the capital of a new province based on the ancient Terra d'Otranto, in recognition of the important role the city had served since ancient times. Until 1951, the new province was called the "Province of the Ionian".[5]

The scorpion on the city's coat of arms may have been used as its emblem in ancient times,[6] on the suggestion of Pyrrhus of Epirus, who was an ally of Taranto in a war against Rome: the scorpion is shown lying on its back with three lilies, holding the crown of the Principality of Taranto between its claws. Pyrrhus, who was king of Epirus, looked down on the city from the hills that surround it and had the idea that its shape was like the figure of a scorpion. This emblem has also been seen as a psychological deterrent to the city's enemies, who came to look on Magna Graecia as being as dangerous as a scorpion.[7] The earliest verified use of a scorpion on the coat of arms of Taranto is from 400 AD.[7]

Government

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List of presidents

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Municipalities

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The province has 29 municipalities:

Demographics

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As of 2026, the population is 547,928, of which 48.8% are male, and 51.2% are female. Minors make up 14.2% of the population, and seniors make up 26.2%.[2]

Immigration

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As of 2025, immigrants make up 4.5% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Romania, Germany, Albania, Switzerland, and Morocco.[10]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011" (in Italian). ISTAT.
  2. 1 2 3 "Resident population". ISTAT.
  3. ↑ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3), OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Province of Lecce". Mybestplanet. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Le due province di Terra d'Otranto e di Taranto". progettostoria. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Taranto". Italy World Club. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Taranto coat of arms". Provincia di Taranto. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991" [Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991] (PDF) (in Italian). ISTAT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Resident population - Time series". ISTAT.
  10. ↑ "Resident population by sex, municipality and citizenship". ISTAT.
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40°28′N 17°14′E / 40.467°N 17.233°E / 40.467; 17.233

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