Taranto's Old Town is separated from the modern area by a narrow canal that was dug at the time the Aragonese castle was constructed. The Old Town spans out around the 15th century castle on its manmade island and is a delightful maze of narrow passages and alleyways which, castle aside, feature a number of interesting buildings.
Right at its heart, is the Cattedrale di San Cataldo. This building dates back to the 11th century, though it features a Baroque façade. Inside is a mosaic floor and a series of frescos by Paolo de Matteis, which date from 1713 and adorn the Chapel where the Saint Cataldo's relics are preserved.
Two pillars opposite the castle are the remains of a Greek Temple, and form the oldest point of worship in the town. Also worth a visit is the Church of San Domenico Maggiore which was founded in 1302 and has been built in the Gothic style, though evidence suggests there were earlier Classical Greek and Byzantine buildings here before hand.
A number of palazzi are scattered through the area as well, such as the Ayala Valva Palace and the Pantaleo Palace, which were buildings of nobility. Today the old town stands much as it did a thousand years ago and it is worth taking a wander.
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