THE CITY OF MONOPOLI

the part of Puglia known as “Terra di Bari”, and which has one of the most important centers in the city of Monopoli, has only appeared in tourism in (relatively) recent years. On the other hand, this delay has helped to preserve the beauty of the city and its vast hinterland (agro-monopolitano) for longer. And there is really a lot to see, starting from the whole area around the city port, to then move on to the characteristic historic center where the contrast between the narrow alleys and the airiness of the squares stands out (Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Palmieri and Piazza XX Settembre, the most famous). The other striking aspect of the historic center of Monopoli is the large number of churches. Above all, the Cathedral of Maria della Santissima della Madia (see next point) which, together with the Castle of Charles V and the Palazzo Martinelli Meo-Evoli, represents a triptych of historic buildings absolutely worth visiting. Lastly, but only for exhibition reasons, the sea. Although the coast is largely rocky and with high seabeds, there is the exception of Capitolo, a hamlet of Monopoli which instead offers white beaches and gently sloping seabeds, and for this reason more suitable for families with children in tow. It is no coincidence, therefore, that tourism has developed more in this area with the birth of hotels, pensions, bed & breakfasts and all the rest of the associated activities normally associated with a seaside resort.