Situated in the Apulia region of Southern Italy, Taranto serves as a significant commercial and military port, ranking among the most crucial cities in this part of Italy. Currently, the city has an approximate population of 200,000 and is home to several vital economic sectors, including commercial shipping, trade, steel production, iron foundries, and military shipyards. Taranto boasts a long and distinguished history, having been colonized around 700 BC by the ancient Greeks as a Spartan settlement.