Eco Hotel a Taranto, Apulia
Apulia › Regionee of Taranto · 20+ eco hotels
Perché Soggiornare a Taranto
Taranto — the City of Two Seas — sits on a dramatic stretch of the Ionian coast where the Mar Piccolo (Little Sea) meets the Mar Grande (Big Sea), creating a geography unlike anywhere else in Italy. Founded by Spartan colonists in 706 BC as Taras, Taranto is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, predating Rome by several centuries. This ancient Greek heritage endures in the city’s identity, its dialect, and most strikingly in the treasures housed at the MARTA Archaeological Museum — widely regarded as one of the finest museums in Italy for Magna Graecia artefacts.
The city’s historic core sits on a small island between the two seas, connected to the mainland by the Ponte Girevole — a spectacular swing bridge that rotates open to allow tall ships to pass between the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande. On this island stands the formidable Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese), a 15th-century fortress built by Ferdinand I of Naples on the site of earlier Byzantine and Norman fortifications. The castle’s ramparts offer sweeping views across both seas.
Taranto is also the undisputed seafood capital of Apulia. The Mar Piccolo’s unique mix of fresh and salt water creates perfect conditions for mussel farming, producing the prized Cozza di Taranto IGP. The city’s culinary identity revolves around the sea — from raw seafood antipasti to tiella (baked rice with mussels and potatoes) and the iconic cozze arrostite (grilled mussels). The daily fish market near the Ponte Girevole is one of the liveliest in southern Italy.
Beyond the water, Taranto anchors a region of extraordinary diversity. The Murge plateau stretches inland with its lunar karst landscape, trulli-dotted hills, and the UNESCO-listed Alberobello a short drive away. The Ionian coast south of the city offers long sandy beaches, pine forests, and resort towns like Castellaneta Marina and Porto Cesareo. Taranto isn’t just a stopover — it’s a destination with millennia of stories to tell, and booking through EcoHotels IMPT means every night you stay removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere at no extra cost.
In Breve
Come Sfruttare al Meglio Your Visit
The nearest airports are Brindisi Airport (BDS) 70 km north and Bari Airport (BRI) 90 km north — both well connected via the A14 motorway and national rail. Taranto’s main train station (Taranto Centrale) sits on the Adriatic rail line, with frequent Trenitalia services to Bari (1 hr), Lecce (1.5 hr), Brindisi (40 min), and north to Bologna and Milan. Driving from Bari takes about 1 hour; from Brindisi around 40–50 minutes. Local buses and taxis connect the station to the old town and beach areas.
The best areas for visitors reflect Taranto’s split personality. Città Vecchia (the old town island) is where the history is — narrow lanes, Aragonese Castle, the Cathedral, and the feel of an ancient fortified island. Borgo Umbertino is the modern centre across the Ponte Girevole — wide boulevards, the waterfront Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele III, restaurants, shops, and most of the hotels. Lido Azzurro along the Ionian coast offers beachfront accommodation and a resort vibe. San Vito, north of the centre, provides quieter residential stays near the arsenal.
Taranto is an excellent base for day trips. Alberobello and its trulli houses are 50 minutes by car. Martina Franca, the baroque jewel of the Itria Valley, is 40 minutes inland. Castellaneta Marina and Lido Gandoli offer sandy beaches 10–15 km south. The Murge national park and the Gravina di Laterza canyon are within an hour’s drive. Spring and early autumn are ideal — summer brings heat and crowds along the coast, but Taranto’s sea breezes keep things bearable. Through EcoHotels IMPT, you get the same prices as Booking.com across 8 million+ hotels worldwide, plus EUR5 free credit on sign-up and up to 5% cashback.
Dove Alloggiare — Areas
Città Vecchia
Old town island. History, Aragonese Castle, Cathedral, narrow lanes. B&Bs and boutique stays. Walk everywhere. Best for culture lovers.
Borgo Umbertino
New town centre. Hotels, restaurants, Lungomare waterfront, shopping. Most convenient base with the widest hotel selection.
Lido Azzurro
Beach area along Ionian coast south of centre. Seaside hotels, pools, resort feel. Summer favourite for families.
San Vito
Residential north, quieter, near the military arsenal. Good for peaceful stays and easy motorway access.
Hotels in Taranto
Same price as Booking.com · 8M+ hotels worldwide · 1 tonne CO₂ removed per booking · EUR5 free credit on sign-up · Up to 5% cashback · 25K+ green partners
Cosa Fare a Taranto
Recommended Sentieri
Old Town Island Walk
1.5 km · 1 hour · Easy
Start at the Aragonese Castle, walk west along Via Duomo past Palazzo Pantaleo to the Cathedral of San Cataldo. Loop back along the northern waterfront for views of the Mar Piccolo mussel farms. Finish at the fish market for grilled mussels.
Ponte Girevole to Lungomare
2.5 km · 45 min · Easy
Cross the Ponte Girevole from Città Vecchia into Borgo Umbertino. Turn right onto Lungomare Vittorio Emanuele III and walk the full 2 km promenade. Panoramic views of the Aragonese Castle, Mar Grande, and the swing bridge. Stop at a cafe for gelato or Aperol Spritz.
Mar Piccolo Coastal Loop
4 km · 1.5 hours · Moderate
From the Ponte Girevole, walk north along the Mar Piccolo waterfront past the naval arsenal. Views of the mussel farms, the citri freshwater springs, and the hills of the Murge beyond. Best at sunset when the inner sea turns gold.