Province of Taranto

The Province of Taranto (Provincia di Taranto) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto.

It has an area of 2,437 km², and a total population of 578,465 (2001). There are 29 comuni (singular: comune) in the province, see Comunes of the Province of Taranto.

History
On 23 September 1923, Taranto province to become budding region of ancient Terra d'Otranto, in recognition of the important role the city served both ancient and in modern era. Until 1951, it was called the Province of the Ionian.

Crest was thought to be used as an emblem of the ancient city suggested by Pyrrhus of Epirus, speaking as an ally in the War against Rome Tarantini: a scorpion on his back depicted with three lilies, crown regent of the Principality of Taranto between the claws. The king of Epirus in fact, observing the city from the hills that surround it, had the impression that the conformation urban remember the figure of a scorpion. This emblem was also acting as a deterrent psychological enemies have considered the Magna Graecia and dangerous as a scorpion.