The Borgo Umbertino of Taranto: the nineteenth-century city of Liberty palazzi, the shopping of via D'Aquino and Di Palma, the seafront and the MArTA. What to see in the new centre.
History
The Borgo Umbertino is nineteenth-century Taranto, born beyond the Navigable Canal when the city, by then cramped on the island of the Old Town, needed to expand. It takes its name from King Umberto I and grew above all after Italian Unification, with the construction of the Naval Arsenal (1889), which brought thousands of workers and new prosperity to Taranto.
It is the district of Liberty-era Taranto: elegant Art Nouveau palazzi, wide orthogonal avenues and airy squares, contrasting with the medieval maze of the island. It is the commercial, administrative and social heart of the modern city.
What to see
Its main arteries are via D'Aquino and via Di Palma, the epicentre of shopping and the citizens' promenade, lively with shops, cafés and restaurants. Here you'll also find the famous MArTA, the National Archaeological Museum, housed in the former Alcantarine convent.
The district faces the Mar Grande with its Vittorio Emanuele III seafront, the scenic Liberty promenade dotted with elegant palazzi, palms and wrought-iron railings, perfect for the evening stroll and the sunsets over the gulf.
Walking through the Borgo means reading both Belle Époque Taranto and today's: among decorated façades, floral-style portals and the liveliness of the city's daily life.
Did you know…
- The Borgo Umbertino grew thanks to the Naval Arsenal, inaugurated in 1889.
- It takes its name from King Umberto I of Savoy.
- In the Greek age, the agora of ancient Taras stood in the Borgo area.
- Via D'Aquino and via Di Palma have been the city's commercial drawing room for over a century.
Practical information
| Hours | — |
|---|---|
| Ticket | — |
| Accessibility | A modern district with wide, mostly level streets, easily accessible. |
| Getting there | Just beyond the Swing Bridge from the Old Town. Central and well served. |
Tips for your visit
- Join the evening stroll on via D'Aquino, among shops and cafés.
- Don't miss the MArTA, in the heart of the district.
- Walk the seafront at sunset, when the sun dips over the Mar Grande.
- Look up at the Liberty façades: the decorative details are splendid.