Taranto

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Taranto
Comune
Comune di Taranto
The Aragon Castle
The Aragon Castle
Location of Taranto
Map
CountryItaly
Region Apulia
ProvinceTaranto (TA)
FrazioniTalsano, Lido Azzurro, Lama, San Vito, San Donato
Area
[1]
 • Total209.64 km2 (80.94 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (April 2012)[2]
 • Total200,154
 • Density950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
DemonymTarantini or Tarentini
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
74121-74122-74123
Dialing code(+39)099
Patron saintSaint Catald of Taranto
Saint dayMay 10
WebsiteOfficial website

Taranto (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtaːranto] ⓘ; early Italian: Tarento from Latin: Tarentum;[3] Ancient Greek: Τάρᾱς Tarās; Modern Greek: Τάραντας Tarantas; Tarantino "Tarde") is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base.[4]

It is the third-largest continental city of Southern Italy: according to 2011 population census, it has a population of 200,154.

Taranto is an important commercial and military port. It has well-developed steel and iron foundries, oil refineries, chemical works, some shipyards for building warships, and food-processing factories. Taranto is known as "The Spartan City" because it was the only colony ever founded by Sparta, in 706 BC.

In ancient times around 500 BC the city was one of the largest in the world with population estimates up to 300,000 people.[5][6]

Overview

Taranto naval base for the Italian Regia Marina's First Squadron. (Photo from 1930s)

Taranto's pre-history dates back to 706 BC[7] when it was founded as a Greek colony, established by the Spartans. The ancient city was situated on a peninsula; the modern city has been built over the ancient Greek city of which only a few ruins remain, including part of the city wall, two temple columns dating to the 6th century BC, and tombs.[8]

The islets of S. Pietro and S. Paolo (St. Peter and St. Paul), collectively known as Cheradi Islands, protect the bay, called Mar Grande (Big Sea), where the commercial port is located. Another bay, called Mar Piccolo (Little Sea), is formed by the peninsula of the old city, and has flourishing fishing. Mar Piccolo is a military port with strategic importance.

At the end of the 19th century, a channel was excavated to allow military ships to enter the Mar Piccolo harbour, and the ancient Greek city become an island connected to the mainland by bridges. In addition, the islets and the coast are strongly fortified. Because of the presence of these two bays, Taranto is also called “the city of the two seas”.

The Greek colonists from Sparta called the city Taras (Τάρας), after the mythical hero Taras, while the Romans, who connected the city to Rome with an extension of the Appian way, called it Tarentum.

The comune of Taranto (red) within its province.

The natural harbor at Taranto made it a logical home port for the Italian naval fleet before and during the First World War. During World War II, Taranto became famous as a consequence of the November 1940 British air attack on the Regia Marina naval base stationed here, which today is called the Battle of Taranto.

Taranto is also the origin of the common name of the Tarantula spider family, Theraphosidae, even though strictly speaking there are no members of Theraphosidae in the area. In ancient times, residents of the town of Taranto, upon being bitten by the large local Wolf Spider, Lycosa tarentula, would promptly do a long vigorous dance like a Jig. This was done in order to sweat the venom out of their pores, even though the spider's venom was not fatal to humans. The frenetic dance became known as the Tarantella.

Physical geography

Aerial view of Taranto

Taranto faces the Ionian Sea. It is 14.5 metres (48 ft) above sea level. It was built on a plain running north/north-west–southeast, and surrounded by the Murgia plateau from the north-west to the east. Its territory extends for 209.64 square kilometres (80.94 sq mi) and is mostly underwater. It is characterised by three natural peninsulas and a man-made island, formed by digging a ditch during the construction of Aragon Castle. The city is known as the "city of two seas" because it is washed by the Great Sea in the bay between Punta Rondinella to the northwest and Capo San Dante to the south, and by the vast reservoir of the Little Sea.

Great Sea and Little Sea

The view of the Little Sea from the Appian Way

The Great Sea is frequently known as the Great Sea bay as that is where ships harbour. It is separated from the Little Sea by a cape which closes the gulf, leading to the artificial island. This island formed the heart of the original city and it is connected to the mainland by the Ponte di Porta Napoli and the Ponte Girevole. The Great Sea is separated from the Ionian Sea by the Capo San Vito, the Isole Cheradi of St Peter and St Paul, and the three islands of San Nicolicchio, which are completely incorporated by the steel plant. The latter form a little archipelago which closes off the arc creating the natural Great Sea bay.

The Little Sea is considered to be a lagoon so it presents problems of water exchange. It is virtually divided into two by the Ponte Punta Penna Pizzone, which joins the Punta Penna to the Punta Pizzone. The first of these forms a rough triangle, whose corners are the opening to the east and the Porta Napoli channel linking it to the Great Sea in the west. The second half forms an ellipse whose major axis measures almost 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the south-west to the north-east. The Galeso river flows into the first half.

Citro in Taranto's Mar Piccolo

The two seas have slightly different winds and tides and their underwater springs have different salinities. These affect the currents on the surface and in the depths of the Great Sea and the two halves of the Little Sea. In the Great Sea and in the northern part of the Little Sea, there are some underwater springs called citri,[9] which carry undrinkable freshwater together with salt water. This creates the ideal biological conditions for cultivating Mediterranean mussels, known locally as cozze.

Climate

The climate of the city, recorded by the weather station situated near the Grottaglie Military Airport, is typical of the Mediterranean with frequent Continental features.

The spring is usually mild and rainy, but it is not uncommon to have sudden cold spells come in from the east, which often cause snowfall.

The summer is very hot and humid, with temperatures reaching up to 40 °C (104 °F).

On 28 November 2012 a large F3 tornado hit the port of Taranto and damaged the Taranto Steel Mill where workers were protesting against the plant's pollution emissions; about 20 people were injured, and another man was reported missing. The tornado is one of nine to hit Italy since 1 October.[citation needed]

Climate data for Taranto
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.0
(68.0) 		21.0
(69.8) 		28.0
(82.4) 		29.0
(84.2) 		34.0
(93.2) 		40.8
(105.4) 		43.0
(109.4) 		42.0
(107.6) 		39.0
(102.2) 		32.2
(90.0) 		26.4
(79.5) 		23.0
(73.4) 		43.0
(109.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.3
(54.1) 		12.8
(55.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		22.4
(72.3) 		26.7
(80.1) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.6
(85.3) 		26.5
(79.7) 		21.8
(71.2) 		17.3
(63.1) 		13.6
(56.5) 		20.5
(68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		11.4
(52.5) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.2
(64.8) 		22.3
(72.1) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.1
(77.2) 		22.2
(72.0) 		18.1
(64.6) 		13.8
(56.8) 		10.4
(50.7) 		16.6
(61.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8) 		6.2
(43.2) 		7.8
(46.0) 		10.2
(50.4) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.0
(64.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		20.7
(69.3) 		18.0
(64.4) 		14.4
(57.9) 		10.4
(50.7) 		7.2
(45.0) 		12.8
(55.0)
Record low °C (°F) −10.0
(14.0) 		−5.0
(23.0) 		−6.4
(20.5) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		2.0
(35.6) 		7.4
(45.3) 		8.8
(47.8) 		10.2
(50.4) 		6.4
(43.5) 		1.0
(33.8) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		−4.8
(23.4) 		−10.0
(14.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 45
(1.8) 		45
(1.8) 		42
(1.7) 		29
(1.1) 		22
(0.9) 		12
(0.5) 		11
(0.4) 		20
(0.8) 		23
(0.9) 		63
(2.5) 		52
(2.0) 		61
(2.4) 		425
(16.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6 6 5 5 4 2 2 3 3 6 6 7 55
Average relative humidity (%) 78 75 73 71 68 63 61 63 66 73 77 80 71
Mean monthly sunshine hours 99.2 93.2 124.0 150.0 207.7 231.0 257.3 241.8 195.0 151.9 114.0 93.0 1,958.1
Mean daily sunshine hours 3.2 3.3 4.0 5.0 6.7 7.7 8.3 7.8 6.5 4.9 3.8 3.0 5.3
Source 1: Archivio climatico Enea-Casaccia (temperature, precipitation and sun)[10]
Source 2: Servizio Meteorologico (humidity, 1961–1990 and extremes 1943–present recorded at Taranto-Grottaglie Airport)[11][12]

It is classified as Geographical zone C and having a degree-day of 30.

History

Main article: History of Taranto
Doric columns in Taranto, legacy of its Greek origins.

Taranto was founded in 706 BC by Dorian Greek immigrants as the only Spartan colony,[7] and its origin is peculiar: the founders were Partheniae ("sons of virgins"), sons of unmarried Spartan women and Perioeci (free men, but not citizens of Sparta); these out-of-wedlock unions were permitted extraordinarily by the Spartans to increase the prospective number of soldiers (only the citizens of Sparta could become soldiers) during the bloody Messenian wars, but later they were retroactively nullified, and the sons were then obliged to leave Greece forever. Phalanthus, the Parthenian leader, went to Delphi to consult the oracle: the puzzling answer designated the harbour of Taranto as the new home of the exiles. The Partheniae arrived in Apulia, and founded the city, naming it Taras after the son of the Greek sea god, Poseidon, and of a local nymph, Satyrion. According to other sources, Heracles founded the city. Another tradition indicates Taras as the founder of the city; the symbol of the Greek city (as well as of the modern city) depicts the legend of Taras being saved from a shipwreck by riding a dolphin that was sent to him by Poseidon. Taranto increased its power, becoming a commercial power and a sovereign city of Magna Graecia,[13] ruling over the Greek colonies in southern Italy.

Its independence and power came to an end as the Romans expanded throughout Italy. Taranto won the first of two wars against Rome for the control of Southern Italy: it was helped by Pyrrhus, king of Greek Epirus,[13] who surprised Rome with the use of elephants in battle, a thing never seen before by the Romans. Rome won the second war in 272 B.C. This subsequently cut off Taranto from the centre of Mediterranean trade, by connecting the Via Appia directly to the port of Brundisium (Brindisi).

Ancient art

See also: Apulian vase painting

Like many Greek city states, Taras issued its own coins in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. The denomination was a Nomos, a die-cast silver coin whose weight, size and purity were controlled by the state. The highly artistic coins presented the symbol of the city, Taras being saved by a dolphin, with the reverse side showing the likeness of a hippocamp, a horse-fish amalgam which is depicted in mythology as the beast that drew Poseidon's chariot.

Taras was also the center of a thriving decorated Greek pottery industry during the 4th century BC. Most of the South Italian Greek vessels known as Basilican ware were made in different workshops in the city.

Unfortunately, none of the names of the artists have survived, so modern scholars have been obliged to give the recognizable artistic hands and workshops nicknames based on the subject matter of their works, museums which possess the works, or individuals who have distinguished the works from others. Some of the most famous of the Apulian vase painters at Taras are now called: the Iliupersis Painter, the Lycurgus Painter, the Gioia del Colle Painter, the Darius Painter, the Underworld Painter, and the White Sakkos Painter, among others.

The wares produced by these workshops were usually large elaborate vessels intended for mortuary use. The forms produced included volute kraters, loutrophoroi, paterai, oinochoai, lekythoi, fish plates, etc. The decoration of these vessels was red figure (with figures reserved in red clay fabric, while the background was covered in a black gloss), with overpainting (sovradipinto) in white, pink, yellow, and maroon slips.

Often the style of the drawings is florid and frilly, as was already the fashion in fourth-century Athens. Distinctive South Italian features also begin to appear. Many figures are shown seated on rocks. Floral motifs become very ornate, including spiraling vines and leaves, roses, lilies, poppies, sprays of laurel, acanthus leaves, etc. Often the subject matter consists of naiskos scenes (scenes showing the statue of a deceased person in a naos, a miniature temple or shrine). Most often the naiskos scene occupies one side of the vase, while a mythological scene occupies the other. Images depicting many of the Greek myths are only known from South Italian vases, since Athenian ones seem to have had more limited repertoires of depiction.

  • Ancient coin from Taranto, with the eponym Taras hero riding a dolphin.
    Ancient coin from Taranto, with the eponym Taras hero riding a dolphin.
  • Collection of ceramics produced in Taranto ca. 580 BC. Taranto Archaeological National Museum
    Collection of ceramics produced in Taranto ca. 580 BC. Taranto Archaeological National Museum
  • Bronze and gold nutcracker, late 4th-early 3rd century BC. Taranto Archaeological National Museum
    Bronze and gold nutcracker, late 4th-early 3rd century BC. Taranto Archaeological National Museum
  • Horace, Ode to Septimius - Celebrating plate Translation: "This corner of the world smiles at me more than the others"
    Horace, Ode to Septimius - Celebrating plate Translation: "This corner of the world smiles at me more than the others"

Municipal bankruptcy

The Municipality of Taranto was declared bankrupt as of 31 December 2005, it had accrued liabilities in an amount equal to €637 million.[citation needed] This was one of the biggest financial crises which has ever hit a municipality.[citation needed]

The municipality was officially declared bankrupt on 18 October 2006 by the receiver Tommaso Blonda. He was appointed after the resignation of the mayor, Rossana Di Bello. This followed her sixteen months imprisonment for her conviction for abuse of office and documentary forgery in relation to investigations made on the contract for the management of the city incinerator given to the company Termomeccanica.[citation needed]

Transport

Taranto railway station connects the city with Rome, Naples, Milan, Bologna, Bari, Reggio di Calabria and Brindisi.

Environment

In 1991 Taranto was declared a high environmental risk area by the Ministry of Environment. As a consequence of the pollutants discharged into the air by the factories in the area, most notably the ILVA steel plant, part of Gruppo Riva, Taranto is the most polluted city in Italy and western Europe. 7% of Taranto's pollution is produced by the public; 93% is produced by factories. In 2005, the European Pollutant Emission Register estimated dioxin emissions from the Taranto ILVA plant were responsible for 83% of Italy's total reported emissions.[14]

Every year the city is exposed to 2.7 tonnes (2.7 long tons; 3.0 short tons) of carbon monoxide and 57.7 tonnes (56.8 long tons; 63.6 short tons) of carbon dioxide.[citation needed] In 2014, the Italian National Institute of Emissions and their Sources,[15] state that Taranto stands third in the world behind China's Linfen, and Copşa Mică in Romania, the most polluted cities in the world due to factories' emissions.[citation needed]

In particular, the city produces ninety-two percent of Italy's dioxin.[citation needed] This is 8.8 percent of the dioxin in Europe.[citation needed] Between 1995 and 2004, leukaemias, myelomas and lymphomas increased by 30 to 40 percent. Dioxin accumulates over the years. Over 9 kilos[clarification needed] of dioxin have been discharged into the city's air by its factories. [citation needed]

Grazing is banned within 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the ILVA plant.[16]

In 2013, the Riva family, owner of the ILVA plant, is being tried for ecological disaster.[citation needed][clarification needed] Emissions of both carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and dioxin have decreased. Animal species have returned that had left, including as swallows, cranes, dolphins, seahorses and the coral reef.[citation needed][clarification needed]

Architecture and landmarks

Palazzo del Governo
The two leaves of the 1887-built Ponte Girevole turning to open the waterway for a large ship

Taranto has a number of sites of historic value. Sitting along the Little Sea, The Aragonese Castle was built in the 15th century with the intention to protect the town from the Turks' frequent raids. The castle replaced a pre-existing fort which was deemed unfit for 15th century warfare.[citation needed]

The old town, including Piazza Fontana, the church of San Domenico, the Madonna della Salute Sanctuary, and a number of old palazzi, is standing exactly as it did a thousand years ago, when the Byzantines rebuilt what the Saracens had razed to the ground in 927 AD.[citation needed]

There are several Greek temple ruins - some from the 6th century BC - such as the remains of a Doric Temple still visible on Piazza Castello.[citation needed]

There are a number of 18th-century palazzi in the town centre. For years, they served as the main residence of local aristocratic families. These include Palazzo Carducci-Artenisio (1650), Palazzo Galeota (1728) and Palazzo Latagliata.[citation needed]

The Ponte Girevole (swing bridge), built in 1887, runs across the navigable ship canal that joins Mar Piccolo (Little Sea) with Mar Grande (Big Sea) and stretches along 89.9 metres (295 ft). When the bridge is open, the two ends of the city are disconnected.[citation needed]

The Promenade (lungomare), named after former Italian king Victor Emmanuel III, overlooks the Mar Grande, the natural harbour and commercial port.[citation needed]

Education

Among the various school are : Liceo Scientifico Battaglini, IIS[clarification needed] Archita, IIS Quinto Ennio (in Literature), IIS Aristosseno (Languages), Galileo Ferraris, and ITIS Pacinotti (in IT) and ITC V. Bachelet (in Commercial and Accounting – famous for the activities at BIT MILANO).[citation needed]

Demographics

Census populations

Dialect

Main article: Tarantino dialect
Advert for beer in the Tarantino dialect.

The city is the centre of the Tarantino dialect (Dialètte tarandine) of the Sicilian language. As a result of the city's history, it is influenced by Greek, Vulgar Latin and French.

Twin towns

Taranto is twinned with:

Notable people

These historical figures have had a relationship with the city. Not all of them were actually born in Taranto.

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ Eric Partridge, Origins: a short etymological dictionary of modern English, p. 695
  4. ^ "Port of Taranto". World Port Source. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  5. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=HooTAQAAIAAJ&q=ancient+tarento+300,000+inhabitants&dq=ancient+tarento+300,000+inhabitants&hl=da&sa=X&ei=tGa1U-P-JoiAywPPp4EY&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBDge
  6. ^ http://books.google.dk/books?id=9sAJAAAAIAAJ&q=late+6th+century+tarentum+population+300,000&dq=late+6th+century+tarentum+population+300,000&hl=da&sa=X&ei=fcC1U8yvN8PO0AWMloDYDQ&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAw
  7. ^ a b "Taranto History, Italy". Travelgrove.com. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  8. ^ "Taranto Tourism and History". Taranto.eu. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  9. ^ Parenzan, Pietro (1972). "L'anello di san Cataldo nel Mar Grande di Taranto" (PDF). Thalassia Salentina. 6: 3–24. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  10. ^ "Profilo climatico dell'Italia: Taranto" (in Italian). Ente per la Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "STAZIONE 324 GROTTAGLIE: medie mensili periodo 61 - 90". Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "Taranto Grottaglie: Record mensili dal 1943" (in Italian). Servizio Meteorologico dell’Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "History of Taranto". Italythisway.com. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  14. ^ "Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission". Parliamentary Questions. European Parliament. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  15. ^ Inventario nazionale delle emissioni e loro sorgenti (INES)
  16. ^ "Italian town fighting for its life over polluting Ilva steelworks". 18 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Day of Twin between Taranto and Sparta". 24 Jul 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Taranto twinned with Brest". 23 Jul 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Twin Cities and city-partners in Donetsk". Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Antioch History". Nobledynasty.com. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  21. ^ "Bohemond I. of Antioch b. Abt. 1058 San Marco Argentano in Calabria d. 1111: Skeel and Kannegaard Genealogy". Skeel.info. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  22. ^ "Michele Riondino". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-10-06.

External links

Look up taranto in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taranto.
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