Mottola is a town and comune in the province of Taranto and region of Apulia in southeast Italy.

It stands on a hill 387 metres (1,270 ft) above mean sea level in the sub-region of Murgia. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all of the Gulf of Taranto can be seen. The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and the manufacture of wooden fixtures are also being developed.