Sea, good food and plenty of history: that is how Monopoli, a small town 40 km from Bari, introduces itself.
Its strong bond with the sea shows in the port, whose history is the history of the town itself. The Greeks, the Messapians and the Romans made the port, and then the town, a key transit point for trade early on. It was to defend the port that first the Castle of Charles V of Habsburg was built and then the ring of walls around the town. This made Monopoli a safe harbor and a well-protected fortress.
Legend has it that the sea also brought Monopoli its patron saint, the Madonna della Madia. Every August 15 and December 16, the town reenacts the miraculous arrival in the harbor waters of the icon depicting the Madonna.
For Monopoli the sea is not only history. Its beach resorts, including the famous Capitolo, draw crowds of visitors in summer. Capitolo is one of the 99 contrade, the rural districts surrounding the town, which is in fact known as the “town of 100 contrade”.
Many of these contrade are home to masserie (farmhouses) and agriturismi, where you can taste the local specialties. Besides fish, there are taralli, “panzerotti”, “rice, potatoes and mussels” and “orecchiette with broccoli rabe”. With food festivals, seaside walks and so many places to visit, Monopoli has something for everyone.
Its strong bond with the sea shows in the port, whose history is the history of the town itself. The Greeks, the Messapians and the Romans made the port, and then the town, a key transit point for trade early on. It was to defend the port that first the Castle of Charles V of Habsburg was built and then the ring of walls around the town. This made Monopoli a safe harbor and a well-protected fortress.
Legend has it that the sea also brought Monopoli its patron saint, the Madonna della Madia. Every August 15 and December 16, the town reenacts the miraculous arrival in the harbor waters of the icon depicting the Madonna.
For Monopoli the sea is not only history. Its beach resorts, including the famous Capitolo, draw crowds of visitors in summer. Capitolo is one of the 99 contrade, the rural districts surrounding the town, which is in fact known as the “town of 100 contrade”.
Many of these contrade are home to masserie (farmhouses) and agriturismi, where you can taste the local specialties. Besides fish, there are taralli, “panzerotti”, “rice, potatoes and mussels” and “orecchiette with broccoli rabe”. With food festivals, seaside walks and so many places to visit, Monopoli has something for everyone.
Book ahead
Monopoli tours
What to see in Monopoli
What to see in Monopoli
1Castello di Carlo V
Opening hours
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 12 and from 18 to 21.
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 12 and from 18 to 21.
Tickets and prices
Free admission
Free admission
Address
Largo Castello - Monopoli (BA)
Largo Castello - Monopoli (BA)
2Cattedrale della Madonna della Madia
Address
Largo Cattedrale 1 - Monopoli (BA)
Largo Cattedrale 1 - Monopoli (BA)
3Piazza Vittorio Emanuele
Address
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele - Monopoli (BA)
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele - Monopoli (BA)
4Museo Diocesano
Opening hours
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 16:30 to 21:30.
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 16:30 to 21:30.
Tickets and prices
Reductions: for children aged 14 to 18 years € 0.50; for groups of more than 20: € 1.
Reductions: for children aged 14 to 18 years € 0.50; for groups of more than 20: € 1.
Address
Via Cattedrale 26 - Monopoli (BA)
Via Cattedrale 26 - Monopoli (BA)
How to get to Monopoli from Bari
By train
Monopoli has a Trenitalia station right in the middle of town, so it is very conveniently located. It is a stop on the Bari – Lecce line, with trains every half hour. A ticket from Bari costs €3.10, and from Lecce €7.70.
Timetables and tickets
By bus
From Bari, Taranto or Brindisi, you can reach Monopoli on Ferrovie del Sud Est buses (www.fseonline.it), which in all three cases run about every 4 hours. Local buses link Monopoli with its beach resorts and back, run by Miccolis (www.miccolis-spa.it). A one-way ticket costs €0.80.
Timetables and tickets
By car
From Bari or Brindisi, take the SS16 Adriatica, then the Monopoli Centro exit. From Taranto, take the SS172 to Martina Franca (31.2 km), continue to Locorotondo (SS172, 6.3 km), Fasano (SS172dir, 2.4 km) and Monopoli (SS16 Adriatica, 14 km).
Where to eat in Monopoli
Ristorante Porto Giardino
Contrada Lamandia 15, Località Capitolo - Monopoli (BA) · (+39) 080 6903917
Risto Cafè Carlo V
Lungomare Santa Maria 25 - Monopoli (BA) · (+39) 080 403 3110
Ristorante Piazza Palmieri
Largo Palmieri 3 - Monopoli (BA) · (+39) 080 743265
Tips
Monopoli has plenty of paid parking lots and spaces, even in central areas such as the seafront and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. The rate is €0.70 an hour.
In summer there are lots of free places to leave your car in town. Near the port, for example, on Via Nazario Sauro, there is a free fenced parking area. Another option is the free shuttle bus, which makes two runs linking the whole town with the historic center, a limited traffic zone (ZTL).
Monopoli is a town to live and to see. On foot (the stroll along the Belvedere, a pedestrian area, is a must) or by car: the choice is yours.
In summer there are lots of free places to leave your car in town. Near the port, for example, on Via Nazario Sauro, there is a free fenced parking area. Another option is the free shuttle bus, which makes two runs linking the whole town with the historic center, a limited traffic zone (ZTL).
Monopoli is a town to live and to see. On foot (the stroll along the Belvedere, a pedestrian area, is a must) or by car: the choice is yours.
Book ahead
Tours to Monopoli
From Monopoli to Polignano: Tour of the Grotto with Focaccia, Prosecco, and Swimming
4.5 (127) · 3–6 h
from €45.37 €50.41