Ancient Tarentum. a fortified seaport in SE Italy, on the Gulf of Taranto: founded by the Greeks in the 8th century b.c.; naval base.
2.
Gulf of, an arm of the Ionian Sea, in S Italy. 85 miles (137 km) long.
British Dictionary definitions for Taranto
Taranto
/təˈræntəʊ; Italian ˈtaːranto/
noun
1.
a port in SE Italy, in Apulia on the Gulf of Taranto (an inlet of the Ionian Sea): the chief city of Magna Graecia; taken by the Romans in 272 bc. Pop: 202 033 (2001) Latin name Tarentum