Here is my comment, and perhaps I'll persuade the few readers I get on here to come to Puglia for a visit!
I am currently visiting my in-laws in Italy for a month and while I cannot speak to the truthfulness of much of what you say, (I won’t fact check you, but I believe there is a lot of pollution damage caused by Ilva), I can say that even though I’m from one of the most pristine cities in the world, Seattle, I can appreciate Taranto’s story and its people, even with it’s filth, corruption and crowded chaos.
Did you visit the National Archeological Museum? It is clean, organized, professional and it’s fascinating to see the myriad of Greek, Roman and Byzantine artifacts found over the years, right under our feet! Did you visit the various archaeological sites around the city? The tomb of the athlete who won awards at the original Olympic Games in Athens? The Ancient Greek (Spartan) burial chambers? The necropolis? Did you see the cathedrals built on Roman temples that were built on Greek temples in la citta vecchia? Did you see the Crypt of the Redeemer, with frescoes of Christ, his apostles, and hear the associated legends of Paul and his first baptisms in present-day Taranto?
Have you seen Cathedral San Cataldo with it’s Byzantine era mosaic floors and adjacent chapel made completely with fitted marble? This church itself has countless stories to tell as it is the oldest cathedral in Puglia. And its sepulchre with frescoes of many saints, including one of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of nearby Bari should not be missed.
How about the British Commonwealth Cemetery of WWI soldiers on the outskirts of town? It is pristine and still kept up by the Commonwealth. It’s a sacred place and transplants the visitor to a significant time in the city’s recent history.
Have you taken a boat tour of the city? It’s stunning, especially at night in the summer and, no doubt, you’ll learn fascinating, little known facts about Taranto. Make sure and bring a translator if you don’t speak Italian, but even if you can’t do that, the view of the city from the sea gives you an unmatched perspective.
The surrounding countryside should also not be missed by a traveler as seasoned as you claim to be. Scattered trulli among the olive trees and rolling hills make for some uniquely beautiful drives. Martina Franca, Alberobello, Matera, Cisternino, Ostuni and many, many more villages are more beautiful and fascinating from a historical perspective than anything I’ve seen in Northern Italy.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Jerry. I have visited Taranto numerous times, and each time I come, I am surprised by it’s fascinating history, charmed by the people, and can’t wait to come back again.
