Port of Taranto: A new AIVP member celebrating port city culture

The Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea - Port of Taranto, in Italy, is a new AIVP member since 2020. The port of Taranto has been very actively disclosing the port-city culture, sharing with the citizens. Indeed, Taranto’s history is closely linked to its maritime activities. It goes back to the Ancient Greeks, and has historical links to several countries, including obviously Greece, but also Spain, France and the Maghreb. Today, Taranto is a major port in Southern Italy, and aims to be a leading intermodal hub on the maritime road from Europe to Asia through the Suez canal. Urban development relies on the port, both for industrial activity and for tourism, as a discrete cruise sector is growing in this Apulian historical city. The Old town of Taranto counts several historical monuments such as the Aragon Castle, located directly on the waterfront. The City also hosts the “MArTA”, the National Archaeological Museum founded in Taranto in 1887, today hosting the largest collection of works produced in ancient Taranto, thus exploring thousands of years of history and culture. The Port of Taranto is an active stakeholder in the Old town’s redevelopment, in cooperation with the Municipality of Taranto. AIVP – As we explained it in the introduction, Port of Taranto has joined recently AIVP. For which reasons did you join AIVP? President du port de Tarente, Sergio Prete – The new Three-Year Operational Plan of this Port Network Authority identifies five main strategic objectives to be achieved by 2022: innovation, port and territory, sustainability, physical infrastructure and competitiveness. To reach these targets, we are shaping our mission in order to keep up with the evolution of our ecosystem and to bring new development visions in our port domain. The regeneration of the relations between the port and the city of Taranto is one of the main issue for our Port Authority, and we are striving to put it as a priority capable of inspiring a number of activities. Some of them have already started; some others are currently undergoing in our port and are almost close to see the light. To this aim, we count on open dialogue, participation and mutual cooperation with the territory as the key drivers for a sustainable economic, social and urban recovery in our port-city. Considering the activities carried out worldwide by AIVP, this Port Network Authority has decided to join your prestigious Network, as a hugely valuable opportunity to get involved in an international cluster that will allow us to disclose new visions and dynamics and to increase the strengths and the results of our actions from a local to global perspective. Indeed, we consider Your expertise and know-how as key points to ensure the achievement of new goals for rebranding the port-city of Taranto worldwide. AIVP – Many port-city projects seem to be under way in Taranto, an inspiring territorial collaboration being put in place. This is perfectly aligned with AIVP’s spirit and goal of inspiring port-city relations. What are you expecting from your AIVP membership? President, Sergio Prete – Indeed, this is a thriving period for the Port of Taranto as it is witnessing the full and global relaunch of its activities and today, more than ever, the city needs to rethink its vocation as a port-city as many other EU port cities around the globe. The key drivers underlying the measures and strategic plans related to the city of Taranto mainly focus on the flourishing of projects and initiatives that can allow the transition to a “New Taranto”, the Sea Capital and Mediterranean sustainable cruise and tourism destination. To achieve this goal in the port-city of Taranto, we strongly believe in the promotion of a dynamic and steady evolution of land-sea interfaces into crossroads of cultures and hubs of commerce and trade, ensuring thereafter the general evolution of the city’s sea-based landscape and identity. We consider AIVP’s expertise and know-how as driving forces to ensure the achievement of new goals for…