<strong>City of the Two Seas: </strong>Located in the instep of Italy's "boot," Taranto's heritage dates all the way back to the Spartans, who founded it in the 8th century BCE.
City of the Two Seas: Located in the instep of Italy's "boot," Taranto's heritage dates all the way back to the Spartans, who founded it in the 8th century BCE.
Handout/Thomas Lovelock for SailGP/Courtesy Municipality of Taranto
<strong>Tourism potential:</strong> For years Taranto has been chiefly known for its polluting steel factory. Now the city is hoping to unlock its tourism potential.
Tourism potential: For years Taranto has been chiefly known for its polluting steel factory. Now the city is hoping to unlock its tourism potential.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>A better tomorrow: </strong>Taranto's mayor, Rinaldo Melucci, hopes to revive the city's old identity, and introduces a new, proud, more diverse future.
A better tomorrow: Taranto's mayor, Rinaldo Melucci, hopes to revive the city's old identity, and introduces a new, proud, more diverse future.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>International inspiration: </strong>Mayor Melucci has looked towards other industrial cities for inspiration, particularly Bilbao in Spain and Pittsburgh, both of which are reinventing themselves for a post-industrial future.
International inspiration: Mayor Melucci has looked towards other industrial cities for inspiration, particularly Bilbao in Spain and Pittsburgh, both of which are reinventing themselves for a post-industrial future.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Sea change: </strong>Taranto's waterfront is poised for a €36 million redevelopment as part of the package of measures aimed at reviving the city.
Sea change: Taranto's waterfront is poised for a €36 million redevelopment as part of the package of measures aimed at reviving the city.
Courtesy Municipality of Taranto
<strong>Old city: </strong>Taranto's Città Vecchia old city is a maze of narrow streets, where many crumbling homes have been abandoned.
Old city: Taranto's Città Vecchia old city is a maze of narrow streets, where many crumbling homes have been abandoned.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Catalyst for growth:</strong> The revival of the Città Vecchia can be a spark for wider change, architectural consultant Simone Marchesi believes. "One of the main things that we're trying to do in regenerating the old city is to ensure that we can unleash the potential that the old town's cultural assets have, to act as a catalyst for growth."
Catalyst for growth: The revival of the Città Vecchia can be a spark for wider change, architectural consultant Simone Marchesi believes. "One of the main things that we're trying to do in regenerating the old city is to ensure that we can unleash the potential that the old town's cultural assets have, to act as a catalyst for growth."
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Sailing circuit: </strong>Taranto's profile as a Mediterranean port received a boost this year when it hosted the Italian round of the international Sail GP competition, joining cities such as Sydney and San Francisco on the tournament's circuit.
Sailing circuit: Taranto's profile as a Mediterranean port received a boost this year when it hosted the Italian round of the international Sail GP competition, joining cities such as Sydney and San Francisco on the tournament's circuit.
Handout/Adam Warner for SailGP/Courtesy Municipality of Taranto
<strong>Underground chambers: </strong>Local historian Nello De Gregorio is passionate about the old city's underground chambers or hypogea. "There are 60 to 65 hypogea here," he says, "of which only half are accessible at the moment. Almost all of them originate in the Greek age. The caves were hollowed out to gather materials to build the ancient temples, and then the medieval city, up to around 1800 AD."
Underground chambers: Local historian Nello De Gregorio is passionate about the old city's underground chambers or hypogea. "There are 60 to 65 hypogea here," he says, "of which only half are accessible at the moment. Almost all of them originate in the Greek age. The caves were hollowed out to gather materials to build the ancient temples, and then the medieval city, up to around 1800 AD."
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Palazzo Archita:</strong> Taranto's grand Palazzo Archita will soon reopen after restoration. "When it is restored it will change the life and the light of an entire quarter of the city," says Mayor Melucci.
Palazzo Archita: Taranto's grand Palazzo Archita will soon reopen after restoration. "When it is restored it will change the life and the light of an entire quarter of the city," says Mayor Melucci.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Roman rival: </strong>"There is nothing here that should be envious of Rome," says Giovanni Fabiani, a tourist visiting from Rome. "The museum, the old city, this island, is really wonderful. I love walking in these little narrow streets and hearing their stories."
Roman rival: "There is nothing here that should be envious of Rome," says Giovanni Fabiani, a tourist visiting from Rome. "The museum, the old city, this island, is really wonderful. I love walking in these little narrow streets and hearing their stories."
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>The sea is everything: </strong>"For Taranto I see the sea, the sea, and the sea. Whatever the question, the answer is the sea," Mayor Melucci tells CNN. "Because the sea is our DNA, it's been our fortune, our sustenance, our health, the games of our little children, and it will probably be our future."
The sea is everything: "For Taranto I see the sea, the sea, and the sea. Whatever the question, the answer is the sea," Mayor Melucci tells CNN. "Because the sea is our DNA, it's been our fortune, our sustenance, our health, the games of our little children, and it will probably be our future."
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN
<strong>Puglia primetime:</strong> If all goes to plan, Taranto could soon join other top tourism destinations, such as Alberobello, Otranto, Ostuni and Gallipoli, in Italy's Puglia region.
Puglia primetime: If all goes to plan, Taranto could soon join other top tourism destinations, such as Alberobello, Otranto, Ostuni and Gallipoli, in Italy's Puglia region.
Jonathan Hawkins/CNN