Province of Taranto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Province of Taranto
Taranto
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|---|---|
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Apulia |
| Capital | Taranto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,437 km2 (941 sq mi) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Total | 580,588 |
| • Density | 238/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| Postal Code |
74100
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| Telephone prefix |
099
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| ISTAT | 073 |
| Vehicle registration | TA |
| No. of communes | 29 |
The Province of Taranto is a special area in the Apulia region of Italy. It's like a county or district. Its main city and capital is Taranto.
This province used to be called the "Province of the Ionian." It covers about 2,437 square kilometers (941 square miles). In 2017, about 581,092 people lived here.
The Province of Taranto has 29 smaller towns and areas called comuni. You can find a list of all these towns at comunes of the Province of Taranto.
The symbol for the province is a scorpion. People believe that Pyrrhus, an ancient king, saw the city of Taranto from a hill and thought it looked like a scorpion.
History of Taranto Province
When Italy became one country, the area that is now Taranto Province was part of a larger province called Lecce.
On September 23, 1923, Taranto became the capital of its own new province. This happened because the city of Taranto had always been very important since ancient times.
Until 1951, this new province was known as the "Province of the Ionian."
The Scorpion Symbol
The scorpion on the province's coat of arms (its official symbol) might have been used a very long time ago.
It's thought that Pyrrhus of Epirus, a king who helped Taranto in a war against Rome, suggested using the scorpion. The symbol shows a scorpion lying on its back with three lilies. It holds the crown of the Principality of Taranto in its claws.
Pyrrhus was the king of Epirus. He looked down at the city from the hills around it and thought its shape looked like a scorpion. This symbol was also meant to scare enemies, making them think that Magna Graecia (the ancient Greek areas in Italy) was as dangerous as a scorpion.
The earliest time we know for sure that a scorpion was used on Taranto's coat of arms was around 400 AD.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Tarento para niños
