Labour day 2015 in Taranto

To celebrate yesterday the labour day, Lucia and I went to Taranto.

We have joined some friends from Altamura, who have come to Taranto as well.

Thanks to Michele Riondino, an Italian actor, Taranto hosts since a couple of years a whole day of music.

According to what I saw yesterday, I confirm that the event has been fully successful.

Let’s remember that Taranto hosts ILVA, the largest steel factory of Europe.

The factory is poisoning the entire city, though. Particularly, among the people who live in Tamburi, area attached to the factory, the average of those who suffer of cancer is higher than any other Apulia city. 

Some ILVA workers, fed up of seeing colleagues and relatives dying of cancer, have established the Comitato lavoratori e cittadini liberi e pensanti.  

The 2^nd of August 2012, during a public meeting held in Taranto, the Comitato was denied the chance to deliver a speech.

As outcome, the Comitato broke through the assembly stopping the Union leaders’ speech, blamed of betraying the citizens and working class’s interests.

Actually,Taranto is going through difficult times: high unemployment, pollution and so on.

This is the reason for which so many Italian artists such as Caparezza, Marlene Kuntz, Mannarino, Subsonica and many others have accepted to come to Taranto and sing for free.

I pay huge respect to them.

The atmosphere yesterday was just great.

So many young people coming from not only Apulia, but from the rest of the country convened here to address a message: Taranto can change in better.

Taranto, a city founded by the Spartans, has an immense archaeological heritage.

Moreover, Taranto vecchia is just so beautiful and picturesque. 

Additionally, let’s not forget that Taranto is currently hosting hundreds of African people who have just crossed the Mediterranean.

Indeed, yesterday an asylum seeker from Gambia, invited by Mietta and Andrea Rivera on stage revealed: “I had a good life in my country. I was an English teacher. Then, I begun to be persecuted due to my opposition to the President of my country, who is a dictator. I teach English now, and play football with Hellas Taranto. I love you Taranto”.

The audience applauded enthusiastically.

I do not know how many people there were yesterday. 

However, I guarantee you that there we were a lot.

Riconversione mentale. Giustiza per Taranto      

MARTA, the splendor of Taranto

MARTA is not just a female name

In this case, MARTA stands for Archeological Museum of Taranto.
















Renewed in 2007, the Museum displays a permanent exhibition which embraces Prehistory and Proto-history, Greek period, Roman age till the Middle Age

Let me say that the best part of it is the Greek period. At that time, Taras (greek name of Taranto), a Spartan colony, became rich and powerful.

Bought the ticket, I begin to follow the path.

The the first room is big, very big.

Right in the middle there is a large amphora. Just at the bottom of it, there is an advise which says that it was returned by the USA.

It was previously displayed in an American Museum, which probably bought it from the black market.

Grave robbers are a big problem for a country like Italy, which has an archeological site almost in every village.

However, the Italian governament managed to get it back. And this is what counts.






According to the exhibition, Taranto was supposed to be very rich. I have never seen so many golden artifacts like I did in MARTA: hair slides, rings, necklaces, bracelets.

The aristocratics were supposed to be plenty of money; moreover, very sensitive to be good looking

The golden artifacts are very well made. Undoubtedly, there were at the time expert goldsmiths. Additionally, I assume there was a huge quantity of gold in Taranto.

The Roman section of MARTA is an additional reason to come here and visit it.

The mosaics look so great that they seem carpets.

I have always been told that MARTA is a great Museum. Now, I know why.

Therefore, if you wish to have an idea about Magna Graecia, now you know where to go to.

Taranto, the Spartan city

I have travelled a lot accross Apulia. However, I have never been in Taranto.

That's a shame, I acknowledge it.

The 5th of July, me and Lucia get on our small car and head to Taranto.

Taranto is a city rich of history, with a glorious past. It was founded by the Spartans in 706 century BC.





A fascinating legend goes that Taras, the son of Poseidon and of the nimph Satyrion, arrived in the harbour of Taranto riding a dolphin. The flag of Taranto city seems to agree with the myth.







Taranto soon became strong and rich. After several wars, it turned into the capital of Magna Grecia.


We have one day to spend in Taranto, so we decide to visit firstly the MARTA (Archeological Museum of Taranto); then, Taranto vecchia.

Taranto vecchia (literally "old Taranto") is ancient core of the city. This is the oldest part of Taranto, accessible from the rest of the city just by a revolving bridge.

After having parked the car, we walk along the main road, which leads us to the ruin of Doric Greek temple.

Taranto vecchia is very much different from the rest of Taranto. People there belongs mainly to the working class. It is the fishermen's quarter.










The kids play in large number along the narrow streets. The shadow of the ILVA's factory looms over them.

Taranto vecchia is plenty of old buildings and churches.

Some of them are abandoned, still untouched though.

From my point of view, the relaunch of the city goes through the regeneration of Taranto vecchia.

This part of the city has a great potential.

The sun is setting. We begin to feel tired.

It is time to have dinner, so we stop by a seafood restaurant to eat mussels, one of the symbol of Taranto.















The next post will deal with the MARTA, the Archeological Museum of Taranto.

The Museum has been renewed since a couple of years.

The artifacts displayed there are unique.

See you soon

If you wish to view more pics, please click here