Province of Taranto
| Province of Taranto | ||
|---|---|---|
| Province | ||
| ||
 Map highlighting the location of the province of Taranto in Italy | ||
| Country |
 Italy | |
| Region | Apulia | |
| Capital(s) | Taranto | |
| Comuni | 29 | |
| Government | ||
| • President | Giovanni Florido | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,437 km2 (941 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012) | ||
| • Total | 578,465 | |
| • Density | 240/km2 (610/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 74100 | |
| Telephone prefix | 099 | |
| Vehicle registration | TA | |
| ISTAT | 073 | |
The Province of Taranto (Italian: 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 square kilometres (941 sq mi), 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 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".
The scorpion on the city's coat of arms may have been used as its emblem in ancient timrs, 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.
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