TARANTO, a sea-port town of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples, and in the Terra de Otranto. It is a strong and populous place, with an archbishop's see, and the title of a principality. It is seated on a peninsula, and is defended by a strong castle; but the harbour is choked up, which has hurt it very much. From this town the spiders called tarantulus have their name, whose bite it was said could not be cured but by music and dancing; but this is now found to be false †. E. Long. 17. 25. N. Lat. 40. 45.