Taranto

Taranto is a large port city in Apulia, in the south of Italy, set on the eponymous gulf of the Ionian Sea, in the arch of the heel of the Italian boot. Known as the 'city of the two seas' for its peculiar location between the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo, it was one of the great colonies of Magna Graecia and preserves a notable archaeological heritage. With almost 200,000 inhabitants, it combines its historic naval base and industrial weight with the seafaring life of the gulf. Taranto will host the 2026 Mediterranean Games, a first-order sporting boost. The city was recognised by ACES Europe as European City of Sport 2025, a title that places it within the broad Italian representation of the ACES network.