Province of Taranto

The province of Taranto (Italian: provincia di Taranto; Tarantino: provìgne de Tarde; Salentino: provincia ti Tàrantu), previously known as the province of the Ionian, is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto. It has an area of 2,437 square kilometres (941 sq mi), and a total population of 581,092 (2017). There are 29 comuni (singular: comune) in the province, all of which are listed at comunes of the Province of Taranto.[1] The coat of arms of the province contains a scorpion, which Pyrrhus is thought to have seen when looking down at Taranto.

Province of Taranto
Province
Flag of Province of Taranto
Flag
Coat of arms of Province of Taranto
Coat of arms
Map highlighting the location of the province of Taranto in Italy
Map highlighting the location of the province of Taranto in Italy
Country Italy
RegionApulia
Capital(s)Taranto
Comuni29
Government
 • PresidentGiovanni Gugliotti (Forza Italia)
Area
 • Total2,437 km2 (941 sq mi)
Population
 (30 September 2017)
 • Total581,092 
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
74100
Telephone prefix099
Vehicle registrationTA
ISTAT073

History
The Ionian sea.

When Italy was unified, the province of Lecce was formed; the western section of this later became the current province of Taranto.[2] On 23 September 1923, Taranto became the capital of a new province based on the ancient Terra d'Otranto, in recognition of the important role the city had served since ancient times. Until 1951, the new province was called the "Province of the Ionian".[3]

The scorpion on the city's coat of arms may have been used as its emblem in ancient times,[4] on the suggestion of Pyrrhus of Epirus, who was an ally of Taranto in a war against Rome: the scorpion is shown lying on its back with three lilies, holding the crown of the Principality of Taranto between its claws. Pyrrhus, who was king of Epirus, looked down on the city from the hills that surround it and had the idea that its shape was like the figure of a scorpion. This emblem has also been seen as a psychological deterrent to the city's enemies, who came to look on Magna Graecia as being as dangerous as a scorpion.[5] The earliest verified use of a scorpion on the coat of arms of Taranto is from 400 AD.[5]

References
  1. "Province of Taranto". Upinet. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. "Province of Lecce". Mybestplanet. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  3. "Le due province di Terra d'Otranto e di Taranto". progettostoria. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. "Taranto". Italy World Club. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  5. "Taranto coat of arms". Provincia di Taranto. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2015.

40°28′N 17°14′E

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