Vicoli di Mare – Taranto Mussel Festival

A festival that rediscovers the maritime soul of Taranto

Vicoli di Mare – Taranto Mussel Festival is the celebration of the city's iconic product: the black mussel of the Mar Piccolo, farmed in a basin where fresh water from underwater springs, known as citri, blends with the saltwater of the Mar Grande. This unique combination gives the Taranto mussel its unmistakable flavor, earning it the status of a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT) of the Puglia region and recognition as a Slow Food Presidium.

The event is widespread: rather than a single stage, it is a journey that winds through the alleys, small squares, and historical sites of the Old Town—the island housing the ancient core of Taranto—and the adjacent Porta Napoli district. Walking among the fishermen's houses, visitors can hop from one venue to another, tasting mussels in all their forms, while exploring hidden hypogea, churches, museums, and art galleries along the way.

Mussels in every form

Restaurants and local businesses in the old center offer mussel-based dishes at popular prices: from classic versions like gratin, fried, or the essential impepata (peppered mussels), to creative pairings with cheeses, honey, fresh pasta, cavatelli, seafood sandwiches, and even themed cocktails. It is a simple and convivial way to tell the story of Taranto's mussel farming, one bite at a time.

Beyond gastronomy

Alongside the food, the program weaves together culture and slow tourism. Visitors can explore the hypogea hidden beneath the Old Town, the Sea Museum in the Clock Tower, and various exhibitions in local galleries, while boat excursions take the curious out among the pergolare (mussel beds) of the Mar Piccolo to discover the secret of the Taranto mussel firsthand. Evenings come alive with live music, art installations, and narrated walks through the fishermen's quarters.

A project for the Old Town

Promoted by Taranto Grand Tour in collaboration with Confcommercio Taranto, the Cathedral Basilica of San Cataldo, and CSV Taranto, with the patronage of the Municipality of Taranto (Province of Taranto, Puglia), the festival was born with a clear goal: to revitalize the ancient center through its most authentic heritage—the sea and its flavors. Since its first edition, it has attracted thousands of people, establishing itself as an event that unites merchants, fishermen, cultural associations, and citizens around the maritime identity of Taranto.