Discovering Monopoli: Italy’s Hidden Gem on the Adriatic Coast
The charming whitewashed town of Monopoli is nestled on Italy’s Adriatic coastline in the enchanting Puglia region. Whilst there are many towns to explore in Puglia, there are so many things to do in Monopoli alone, making it a great home base as you explore the region. Like most Puglian towns, Monopoli offers a perfect blend of rich history, stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine all set to the backdrop of the sparkling Adriatic Sea.
When to visit Monopoli
Monopoli is a delight year round, but I’d strongly recommend avoiding peak tourist season in the thick of European summer from June to August. The shoulder seasons either side of summer are a delightful time to travel in and the weather is still usually warm enough to enjoy some beach time.
Personally, I found late September to be a great time to experience Monopoli and the broader Puglia region as crowds were fewer, the temperature was balmy and the surge pricing of tourist season was over.
How to get to Monopoli
Monopoli is conveniently located on the regional train line, so if you are flying into the region’s main airport, Bari, then you can get the airport train into Bari Centrale which will take around 15 minutes. Then transfer onto the local Trenitalia train and travel for around half an hour until you reach Monopoli.
If you’re coming from another city in Italy, such as Rome, you can get the direct train service from Rome Termini to Monopoli via Bari Centrale. The trip from Rome to Bari takes around 4 hours and then another 30 minutes to Monopoli.
Some people choose to hire a car in Bari to explore the region fully and in this case, the drive between Bari and Monopoli takes around 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Where to stay in Monopoli
I’m a huge fan of selecting Monopoli as your home base as you venture through the Puglia region and luckily there are so many wonderful accommodation options located in the city. I definitely recommend staying in the gorgeous old town centre because it is truly a beautiful thing to spend your days wandering the fairy-tale like laneways adorned with festoon lighting.
Palazzo Mulini is a great choice for your stay as it is located in the heart of the old town and it is also walking distance from the beach and railway station. It also has a lovely rooftop with great views of the sea and a spa inside the hotel. For apartment-style accommodation rather than a hotel, the HolidayMonopoli is another great choice.
Where to eat in Monopoli
Monopoli has a great selection of restaurants to suit every budget. Like most of Puglia, there’s a strong focus on fresh seafood and local produce.
- For a quick and easy sandwich, try the always delicious Porchetteria located in the old town. You can even grab a sandwich to go and wander down to the seaside for an ocean view while you eat.
- Vini & Panini is another great lunch spot for sandwiches and antipasto platters located in Piazza Garibaldi.
- The King Street Food is a great casual, kid-friendly restaurant serving up local food, pucce and great pizzas. The dining is mostly al fresco and it has a great vibe.
- Osteria Pericci serves up amazing local seafood and pastas (amongst other things) and the menu features the famous Puglian orrechiette pasta.
- Trattoria La Locanda dei Mercanti is another great option for fresh pasta and seafood. The food here is some of the best you’ll find in Monopoli, but you usually will need to book a table at this restaurant.
- Il Cappricio for the best gelato in the town. Located in Piazza Garibaldi.
The best things to do in Monopli
Explore the beautiful old town
Monopoli has one of the loveliest old towns in the Puglia region. The buildings are pristinely white, the streets are narrow and paved with cobble stones and the air is think with the salty spray of the Adriatic. There are a tonne of shops and restaurants nestled in the laneways of the Monopoli old town just waiting to be discovered.
And truly one of the best things to do in the old towns of Europe is to allow yourself to get lost in them, so don’t rush and enjoy the delight of meandering without knowing the destination. Definitely take time to explore in both the daytime and the night time as at night the laneways are lit up with fairy lights, giving the town an even more magical feel.
Take a dip at one of Monopoli’s beaches
Monopoli is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the Puglia region. You can choose from rocky concrete or sandy beaches, all with their own unique charms. The Cala Porta Vecchia is the old town’s closest beach and here you can set up your towel on a stretch of concrete jutting out from the city walls. At low tides there is some sand, however the strip is quite narrow and disappears when the tide rolls in.
Porto Bianco is a more traditional sandy beach with clear and gentle water. This beach is a great option for families. A little further away is the Cala Porto Rosso which is a lovely cove with some rocky and sandy surfaces to suit any preference and if you want a beach club experience then next door is the more upmarket Porto Nero. For my money, Porto Bianco is the best option for all types of beachgoers.
Explore the morbidity of the Purgatory Church
One of the most interesting churches I have ever visited is the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Suffragio, located in the heart of the old town directly opposite the Palazzo Mulini hotel.
This unusual 17th century church features macabre carvings of skeletons and other symbols of death on its exterior and on the inside there are even mummified remains of the church’s founders and even one mummified child in a white dress.
Whilst it certainly might seem creepy, this unique church is definitely one to experience when visiting Monopoli for its very unusual take on the idea of purgatory.
Visit the Cattedrale Maria Santissima della Madia
Just a little up the street from the purgatory church is the town’s main cathedral, the ornate Cattedrale Maria Santissima della Madia. Built in the Baroque style and constructed in 1772, this grand dame of Puglian churches rings out every day to mark the hour.
The site itself was a spiritual site dating all the way back to the 6th century and has had various temples and holy buildings erected over the centuries. The cathedral is free to visit and is worthwhile stopping in on to admire the many frescos and ornate altar contained within the building.
Uncover the history of Castello di Carlo V
The city walls of the town of Monopoli fortifying the village all connect to the impressive Castello di Carlo V, built in the 1500s. The manor house is impressive even just from the exterior and inside it is now used as an exhibition centre.
You are able to view the castle from the outside for free, but it is certainly worth exploring the interior courtyards and armoury and only costs around 5 euros. There are also spectacular sea views from the vantage point of the castle.
Enjoy the lovely Monopoli Porto Antico
Monopoli’s harbour is truly divine, particularly in the last sunlight of the day where the clouds in the sky turn a pink hue and the blue fishing boats return to the dock for the day.
Often musicians busk in the area, adding a lovely ambiance to the already picturesque scene and there are plenty of stops for aperitivo around to take in the sunset before dinner.
Take a day trip
Monopoli is the perfect jumping off point to explore the Puglia region more fully. There are direct trains from Monopoli to Polignano a Mare, Bari and Lecce making these cities very easily accessible on a day trip. Another must-visit town when in the Puglia region is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Alberobello, however this is best accessed via car at around 30 mins drive from Monopoli.
There are buses that run direct from Monopoli to Alberobello, however I found them quite unreliable. You could consider hiring a private driver for the day to visit a few towns in the area. We took this option to visit Alberobello, Locorotondo and Ostuni within a day – though Ostuni probably deserves a longer visit if possible.
In summary: visiting Monopoli
Monopoli is one of the quieter towns in the Puglia region, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting. This lovely town makes a great home base to venture out and visit Puglia, but there’s plenty in Monopoli itself to also explore.
Foodies, families and solo travellers will all love this sweet, whitewashed town in the heart of Italy’s boot heel and will want to return over and over again.
Like this post on the best things to do in Monopoli?
Pin to save it for later!
More posts about Italy
