Piazza Ebalia, 74123 Taranto TA
Departing from Naples, you can reach Taranto by car by taking the A3 from Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi via Via Galileo Ferraris. Continue along the A3 and A2/E45 to Sicignano degli Alburni, taking the exit for Potenza. Proceed along the E847 and then the E90 until you reach Piazza Ebalia, where the Rose of the Winds Fountain is located—one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Several bus routes are available from Naples Central Station, operated by Trenitalia and FlixBus. Depending on the service chosen, the final stop may vary slightly, but all buses arrive in central Taranto. From there, another bus is needed to reach the fountain.
You can reach the center of Taranto by train from Naples Central Station. The train stops at Potenza station before ending its journey on the west side of Piazza della Libertà in Taranto. From there, a short 10-minute bus ride is needed to reach the fountain.
The Rose of the Winds Fountain, located at the center of Piazza Ebalia in the New Borough of Taranto, is one of the city's most significant monumental works. Designed by architect Brunetti, it was inaugurated on June 4, 1953, during a period of urban expansion in the neighborhood. The fountain owes its name to the eight sculpted heads positioned around the edges of the central circle, each representing one of the eight principal winds that blow over Taranto: Tramontana, Grecale, Levante, Scirocco, Ostro, Libeccio, Ponente, and Maestrale. Featuring twenty-one vertical water jets and a tall central spout, the fountain offers a captivating display, especially in the evening when illuminated by multicolored lights. An inscription in Latin adorns the outer edge of the basin: "Et quidem, cum fortiter adversa vela ventis," which translates to "And even with adverse winds, we will sail courageously," a testament to the city's maritime heritage. Over the years, the fountain experienced periods of neglect but was restored in the 1990s, restoring its original white color and reviving the functionality of its water jets.
