Monopoli

Puglia, Italy

Why visit Monopoli?

Monopoli

Southern Italy

Apulia

Bari (province)

Monopoli Monopoli is a town of 48,000 people (2020) in the province of Bari . Monopoli is an old fishing village with several very picturesque beaches. In comparison to the western side of Italy it retains its Italian old town feel and is relatively untouched by tourism. You are more likely to meet other Italians on holiday here rather than English or Germans.

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How do you get there?

Monopoli can be easily reached by car or train. Bari is the closest airport/train interchange. Bari Airport to Bari Train station takes about 30 minutes and the train from Bari to Monopoli takes approximately 30 minutes. Monopoli old town is within walking distance of Monopoli train station.

Walking is without any doubt the best way of visiting the old city and its tightened and tangled roads. Although a car could be necessary if you're going to visit the coast or the countryside. From June to August a bus service connects the train station to the beaches in the south of the city.

What are the things to do?

Monopoli Cathedral . 18th century, minor basilica ( updated Jul 2025 )

Castle of Charles V . Finished in 1525, it has a pentagonal plan. It is on a promontory which was separated from the medieval city. It was restored and enlarged in the 17th century. Starting from the early 19th century, it was used as a jail, a status it kept until 1969. It is the seat of an art exhibition and cultural events. ( updated Jul 2025 ) Coastal castle of St. Stephen, built by the Norman lord Godfrey of Conversano in 1086. It was later turned into a Benedictine monastery. Jerusalem Hospital, founded in 1350 by the Hospitallers Palazzo Palmieri (18th century) Monte San Nicola (Mount St. Nicholas) faunal reserve. The reserve, lying on the summit of a hill 290 m (950 ft) high in the Murge plateau, is important for the presence of some endemic plants. Port Old city Church of S. Domenico Sea and beaches Basilian underground churches and villages Spanish manors

Go to the beach. There are plenty of small beaches (both free beaches and beach clubs) within walking distance south of Monopoli.

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Where to eat?

Trattoria del Porto , via porto 17 , ☏ +39 080 4107431 , fax : +39 0808872429 , [email protected] . M W-Sa 19.00-00:00, Su 12:00-14:00, Tu closed . Taste of Apulia in the quiet atmosphere of the old city. €15-35 .

Where to drink?

Monopoli has a lively bar scene around the old port and in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Local Apulian wines are the focus, with Primitivo, Negroamaro, and white Locorotondo DOC widely available. Many wine bars and cafes offer seafood-based aperitivos in the evening, particularly along the waterfront.

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Where to stay?

Bed And Breakfast Mari e Monti ( Near Castellana Grotte, Zoosafari and Alberobello ), Contrada aratico,352 , ☏ +39 0809309162 , [email protected] . Check-in: 14:00 , check-out: 11:00 . Bed & Breakfast with 2 main rooms, a bedroom, a small kitchen with a fridge, and a small bathroom. €30 for person a night . La Porta Vecchia , Via Peroscia, 21 ( in the old town ), ☏ +39 080 802 690 . B&B. €60 .

What should you buy?

Monopoli's old town has small shops selling ceramics, local olive oil, and wine. The morning fish market at the port is a lively experience. For fresh produce and local specialties, visit the market area near Piazza XX Settembre. Artisan food shops sell taralli, pasta, and preserves.

Where to go next?

This article is issued from Wikivoyage . The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

Nearby in Puglia

More places to explore around Monopoli.

Guide content as of June 2026. Portions adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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