Monopoli, Italy - travel impressions

MONOPOLI, PUGLIA, ITALY - PLACES TO VISIT, ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Monopoli is a small fishing town located on the Adriatic coast, in the Puglia region, 45 minutes from Bari and only 15 minutes from Polignano a Mare. As with many places of this kind in Puglia, it is very quiet. It is one of the places most often overlooked by tourists, but not because it is not worth visiting, but rather because of the “serious competition” of Alberobello, Matera and Polignano a Mare, which leave no doubt that they should be included in the itinerary at the expense of any other place in Puglia.

If, however, you have several days to spare in Puglia, then you should also consider Monopoli. You can choose this place either as part of a day trip or as a “base camp” for the region if you don’t want to change accommodation too many times. It is also a location that suits tourists who are looking for a quiet location to spend several days.

In this article I will tell you about the most interesting activities in Monopoli, tourist attractions, the most beautiful beaches and day trips. You will also find useful information here, related to logistics, such as accommodation, transportation, connections to other cities and much more.

HOW DO YOU GET TO MONOPOLY?

The closest airports with international flights are those in Bari and Brindisi. From Bari, there are several options to get to Monopoli:

• the easiest option, and the one I recommend, if you plan to explore more places in Puglia, is to rent a car. At Bari airport, you can find companies like Sicily by car, Goldcar, Avis, or Europecar. To find the best deals on car rental, I recommend comparing prices on search engines like Skyscanner and choose the company with the best offer, depending on your personal needs and preferences;

• the option of train transport can also be considered. In the southern part of Italy, train tickets are much more affordable, compared to the northern part. So, on a 45-minute journey from Bari to Monopoli, we pay just under €4. Tickets are purchased from the ticket machines present in the station and need to be validated before boarding the train.

WHERE DO YOU STAY IN MONOPOLY?

As I said above, Monopoli can be considered as a place to stay in Puglia and take day trips to other cities, especially if you opt for the car rental option.

Among the accommodation options available on Booking, the ones that caught my attention are:

• Barbacana46 Guest House - accommodation unit with double rooms and apartment type. It is located near the Porta Vecchia beach, has parking included in the booking price, and some rooms are equipped with a jacuzzi;

• Casa Perugini - apartment-type accommodation unit with one bedroom, living room and kitchen, which can accommodate up to 3 people. It has a terrace and is located near Porta Vecchia Beach;

• Palazzo Palasciano - this is a house-apartment type accommodation unit, which can accommodate up to 4 adults and 2 children. It has parking and is located a 6-minute walk from Porta Vecchia Beach.

PLACES TO VISIT IN MONOPOLI

The historic center is definitely the place not to be missed in Monopoli. At least, it made me fall in love with this small town. The pedestrian streets with white houses, the quiet atmosphere of “dolce far ninte”, the terraces full of happy people and all this accompanied by a delicious gelato (the best gelato is at Bella Blu) were my recipe for a perfect walk. Among the most beautiful streets to get lost in are: Via Garibaldi, Via San Vito, Via Porto, and the streets around Castello Carlo V.

Palazzo Palmieri is a Baroque building located in the historic center of the city. The interior has over 100 rooms, the most important being the gallery, where both works of art and ancient artifacts are exhibited.

The Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Madia, also known as the Cathedral of Monopoli, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was built near a Roman temple and cemetery. Its construction began in 1117, to be completed only in 1442. In 1742 it was demolished and built again the cathedral that still exists today.

Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the most popular places in the city. Although it is not a large square, here we will find many terraces, bars, restaurants and gelaterias. It is the perfect place to relax, or to have a meal.

The Santa Maria Bastion was built for military purposes during the Byzantine period to protect the city from invasions. Nowadays, this place is one of the most visited places where tourists come to admire the view of the Adriatic Sea.

Following it, we find Castello Carlo V. Like the bastion, it was built with the same purpose, of military protection, in the mid-6th century, during Spanish domination.

The Madonna del Soccorso cave crypt was built in a cave 6 meters deep in the ground. It is open to the public and the ticket price is €1/person.

Porto Antico and the entire promenade in this area made me think of Venice. Although it is only a small port, it is very picturesque and worth adding to the itinerary. Once we have admired Porto Antico, we can continue the walk to Faro Rosso, then along the Lungomare waterfront.

In order not to miss anything important to see in the city, I recommend purchasing a guided tour. You can either opt for a tour of the most important touristic places in Monopoli, or for a gastronomic tour, where you can try local specialties.

Monopoli also has a few rocky beaches and paths, so if you are looking for a place to spend several days, with a slightly lower budget than other places in Italy, then you can consider this small town. Below is a list of some of the beaches and calas of the city:

Spagia di Porto Verde is located about 20 minutes walk from the city center. It is a beach with fine sand, surrounded by rocks. In some areas there are mini-grottos partially covered by water, where you can swim or snorkel. It is recommended to have water and food supplies if you want to spend several hours there and also it's also good to know that it can get very crowded in summer, during the day.

Cala Porta Vecchia is one of the closest beaches to the center, located along the city's defensive walls. It is made up of a combination of sand, stones and concrete.

Cala Cozze is located about a 16-minute walk from the city center. It is made up of only stones and rocks, so water shoes are required.

Porto Bianco is a cove located in a small bay. It has both fine sand and rocky areas, and the entrance to the water is gentle and you don't need to have water shoes. It is not equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, but you can find restaurants relatively close by.

Cala Porto Nero is formed in a rocky place, without sandy areas. The entrance to the water is done with the help of a specially arranged platform ladder. It is recommended to have water shoes.

DAY TRIPS IN PUGLIA:

• Polignano a Mare - a town slightly larger than Monopoli, much more touristy and crowded, which is worth considering. Personally, it was my favorite in Puglia.

• boat trip to the sunken caves of Polignano a Mare. Includes a meal and drinks, details here;

• Matera - one of the oldest cities in Italy. The mystical atmosphere, stunning sunsets and vibrant culture of Matera make this Italian city a fairytale destination you will never forget;

• Alberobello - the fairytale town in southern Italy, where you will discover the famous trulli – the white houses with conical roofs, unique in the world and protected by UNESCO;

• guided electric bike tour to St. Andrew Village, details here;

• bike ride through the villages near the city, details here;

• Ostuni, the white city of Italy, where the shiny, impeccably whitewashed houses contrast spectacularly with the blue sky and turquoise sea of ​​Puglia.

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT MONOPOLI

Monopoli is a town with an interesting history, very well preserved and highlighted by defensive walls and buildings built hundreds of years ago for protection, which can still be admired today. Whether you choose to visit this place in one day, or choose to spend several days, I am convinced that it will not disappoint. Moreover, as I said at the beginning of the article, this city can be considered a base camp for Puglia, because it has direct train connections with Bari and Polignano and bus connection with Alberobello. Also, the prices for accommodation are lower, compared to other locations in this region.

Read also about other locations I visited in Puglia, such as Bari, Polignano, or Alberobello.

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