Taranto is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. It is an important commercial and military port. It has well-developed steel and iron foundries, oil refineries, chemical works, some shipyards for building warships, and food-processing factories. The ancient city was situated on a peninsula, protected by a helm; the modern city has been built over the ancient Greek necropolis.
