M.A.R.T.A. Taranto

M.A.R.T.A. Taranto

A glimpse of art in Puglia

The stunning Taranto is located in the “heel” of Italy (Puglia), in the Ionian arch, a place where the Mar Grande and the Mare Piccolo seas meet.

Taras” is the toponym under which the city was named in antiquity: it derives from the Son of Poseidon, the God of the Seas ( in Taranto there are the remains of a temple dedicated to him).

Taranto is famous for its history, especially for the huge archaeological heritage of the Magna-Grecia culture in southern Italy, preserved in the National Archaeological Museum (MARTA).

Want to know more? Scroll down!

Discover the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto

The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MARTA) is located in the former Convent of San Pasquale di Babylon, near the Gardens of Piazza Garibaldi in Taranto.

It contains one of the most important archaeological collections in Italy, consisting of more than 300 items from all ages.

In the museum can be found artifacts ranging from prehistory to the Middle Ages, during the colonization of Iapigi, Spartans, Greeks and Romans.

Not to be missed is the invaluable treasure of the “Ori of Taranto”, a true anthology of the Hellenistic age art with Romans’ sculptures and terracotta figures, utensils and goldsmiths of all kinds.

There can also be found Greek polychrome pottery, bones, ivory alongside burial crematorium of the Imperial age.

The uniqueness of Taranto

Taranto is one of the few cities where a bridge links the old city to the modern one.

The revolving bridge was inaugurated in 1887 and still is considered a great work of mechanical engineering.

While visiting Taranto, you must stop at the Doric columns.

These sculptures are dated back to the 6th century B.C. and belong to an ancient Spartan temple in front of the castle and the crystal-clear sea.

To know something more about it click here!

  • roman statue at marta national archeological museum of taranto
  • marta national archeological museum of taranto

The Aragonese Castle of Taranto, also called the Castle of Saint Angel, is a spectacular castle facing the sea that became one of the best touristic attractions of Taranto.

The name Aragonese is due to the Aragon King Ferdinand I of Naples, who built this Castle to defend the area from the invasors.

Do you know that nowadays the Aragonese Castle of Taranto is the house of an Italian navy base?

Find out this and other curiosities here!

Tips:

As we find out, Taranto is a unique Apulian pearl, a modern city full of surprises, culture, traditions and even a National Archaeological Museum.

If you want to discover something more about the Magna Grecia, the area in which Taranto lies, watch the video below done for the UNPLI Puglia!

Did we arouse your curiosity?

We are waiting for you to show you how stunning Puglia is.

See you in Puglia!

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Brindisi Lecce BARI Fasano Taranto Vieste Troia Foggia Conversano Castellana Grotte Monopoli Polignano a Mare BARI Mola di Bari Andria Gravina in Puglia Trani Barletta Fasano Alberobello Noci Locorotondo Cisternino Martina Franca Mottola Laterza Castellaneta Marina Taranto Vieste Peschici Rodi Garganico Monte Sant’Angelo Manfredonia San Giovanni Rotondo Lesina Margherita di Savoia Foggia Ostuni Ceglie Messapica Francavilla Fontana Brindisi Lecce Torre dell’Orso Porto Cesareo Otranto S. Cesarea Terme Gallipoli Ugento Santa Maria di Leuca Nardò Faeto Troia Bovino Sant’Agata di Puglia Lucera

MARTA Taranto / Ionian Arch of Taranto / Puglia

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The tale of the Two Sisters


Traveling on the Apulian Adriatic coastline, in a few km from Lecce city, you’ll reach the marine area of Torre dell’Orso and the most famous Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle.

  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia

Are you curious to know something about that singular name?

Well, there is a nice and a bit sad tale behind the Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle. This gives the location a huge air of mystery.

This marine area is very fascinating. Reachable walking through a little Mediterranean Maquis forest, under the cliffs there’s a sandy beach 800 meters long.

Slight white sand, clear turquoise seawater, warm enchanting sun, everything in the same stunning place.

But probably you’re still thinking about the tale, so, I’m going to tell the story.

The tale of the Sisters

« The tale says that once upon a time, two young sisters were living in the Salento area. They were very hard workers, and they had never seen the magnificence of the sea.

One day, to counteract the hot summer, they went toward the seaside for the first time. Well, they were so much fascinated by the amazing view they got there that the younger one dived from the cliff into the water. At that point, the eldest sister tried to save her, but it was too late.

They couldn’t get back to the shore. The Gods, looking at them: alone, desperate, and cute, decided to turn them into two beautiful rocky stacks in the middle of the sea.

A fisherman, while walking nearby, just saw two rocks rise from the sea. Since that day, the beach is known as Two Sisters Beach. »

The tale is very magical but a bit sad, and once there, it’s really hard to don’t get emotional.

Then, the clear seawater just completes the landscape.

Two Sisters Beach and Torre Dell’Orso

The Two Sisters Beach| ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | is located in the marine area of MelendugnoTorre dell’Orso. For the sake of completeness, we have to say that also this name has got a charming little story.

In this case, the name Torre dell’Orso, which literally means Bear Tower, derives from the sighting tower by the sea.

Then, on the cliff under the tower, there’s a rock shaped like a bear by the erosion.

  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia

One day trip

If you want to get a fantastic and cool experience traveling on the Adriatic coastline, start your trip having a good breakfast in Lecce.

We advise you to ask for a pasticiotto and a caffè leccese: you’ll love them from here to the moon and back!

Then, drive from Lecce to Roca Vecchia village, where the amazing Poetry Cave | ita: Grotta della Poesia | awaits you for a nice dive.

After that, run towards the Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | to get a relaxing swim into one of the most beautiful seas of Puglia.

In the end, reach Torre Sant’Andrea to admire the stunning view of The Sea Stacks of Sant’Andrea | ita: I Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea .

But if you have still time, don’t miss the weird landscape of the Bauxite Cave | ita: Cava di Bauxite | quite close to Otranto.

You can easily do this little itinerary on a one day trip. From the morning to the night on the southern Adriatic coastline of Puglia.

We did it and you find an article about our Road Trip in Salento on the blog!

Would you like to start your trip? Enjoy your One day trip to Salento!

Click on the map below to directly get the direction.

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