The beautiful historic town of Taranto in Puglia, Southern Italy, dates back to the 8th century BC when it was founded as a Spartan colony. The city's name is said to be derived from Taras, the son of the greek sea god Poseidon and the local nymph Satryon. Evidence of the greek period is still visible today, for example in the remains of a temple just on the entrance into the 'old town', or Taranto Vecchia. The old town is beautiful: narrow disordered streets run like corridors between tall, ancient edifices, many of which are inhabited by a local community speaking dialect unique to this city: Tarandine. Despite lacking a soundtrack of gregarious voices and approaching mopeds, the following present an impression of this particular, ancient neighbourhood. The images are accompanied by other views of the city.