This is Monopoli

1. This is Monopoli

2. This is Monopoli, a fantastic place by the sea, in the South of Italy. There are about 48.000 people living in this town.

3. This is one of its wonderful beaches, where you can have a swim even in October. The climate, in fact, is really fantastic here: not very cold in winter, mild in autumn and spring and the summers are very long.

4. The countryside is simply lovely: not far from the centre, you can admire immense fields of ever-green olive trees which reign majestically all over the country. They give us the best oil, well-known everywhere. Agriculture is one of the most important activity of my town: almonds, peaches, cherries, and so many others kinds of fruit are the main products of my land.

5. Here you are a fantastic keep surrounded by the blue sea. I think Monopoli is a real “piece of cake”. Let’s start our walking from the centre and I am sure you will fall in love with it.

6. This is Vittorio E. Square, commonly known as “the Borgo”, the heart of the social life of Monopoli. It is a big square located in the centre of the town. As you can see it is divided into two parts by an avenue and surrounded by oak trees. On one side you can admire a memorial monument; while on the other side there is a plants bed surrounded by benches.

7. It is a place where the major events of the year take place, like sport races, demos concerts and exhibitions. If you want to walk or to chat with your friends, to play, to meet people, to be informed about the last gossips of the day, this is the place for you.

8. The central avenue of Vittorio Emanuele Square is connected to “Largo Plebiscito”, where once there was one of the three entrances of the old town and where you can admire “ San Francesco d’Assisi” church built in the XIII century and rebuilt in the XVIII century.

9. Next to “S. Francesco d’Assisi” church, there is the Town Hall. In the past it was a Franciscan Monastery.

10. Walking down “Via Garibaldi” also called by the local people “Street of Merchants” due two the presence of the Venetian shopkeepers in the XV century, on your left you find “Vico dei Jesuiti” so named after the Jesuits’ college. Today the building is not in a good condition, as you can see, and it has not got any use.

11. In “Garibaldi”square there is the “Caffè Venezia”, the oldest bar in my town. If you are hungry, in the same square, there is the best bakery in Monopoli, “S Caterina” bakery, where you can taste a good piece of pie, a tasty bread and any other bread specialities.

12. This is one of the typical religious icons of my town. It is dedicated to “Madonna della Madia”, the Protectress of Monopoli. You can find many of them in the old centre.

13. Going through this small entrance, the fantastic scenery of the harbour area is in front of you, with its splendid “Martinelli Meo Evoli” Palace which once housed the academy of music.

14. This is the most important trading harbour between Bari and Brindisi, but it is not very large; it cannot hold big ships, but only fishing boats and medium ships. Fishing is a very important activity in my town. Not far from the harbour there is also a shipyard for the building of new boats.

15. A few lines about my town in the past: it is a town of Greek origins and in fact “Monopoli” means “only one town” in Greek language. Since its birth Monopoli was a big village of fishermen, peasants, and traders. It was under the dominion of the Romans, the East Empire in the V century, the Venetians and the Spanish. Now it is a modern town except for the old centre which arises in the harbour area. This is the most interesting part in the town because it is rich of artistic beauties dated from Romanesque, Middle Age period and Baroque period. Walking along this area, you can enjoy wonderful sights: the blue, sea the old white houses, an old castle, the olds surrounding town walls, a lot of old churches and very nice people leaving there.

16. This is the wonderful rose window of “S.Domenico” church, built about 500 years ago.

17. “Prospero Rendella” is the public library. The front side is in neoclassic style. Once it was a theatre.

18. “Palmieri” square is the most beautiful square in the old centre. You can admire “Palazzo Marchesale”, belonging to the 18th century. Its main characteristic is the balcony with the ancient family badge on the top of it.

19. The main church in Monopoli is the Cathedral. It is in the old centre, near an old convent. It is dedicated to “Madonna della Madia” the Protectress of Monopoli. Many years ago her icon arrived on the top of a raft whose logs were used to complete the roof of the church. It was built first in the Romanesque style and later rebuilt in Baroque style.

20. This is “S Maria degli Amalfitani”, the oldest church in Monopoli. This church was built in the XII century by some Amalfi sailors escaped a wreck. It has been restored recently. Now it stands in all its artistic beauty.

21. “Carlo V” Castle is in the old centre. It is just on the coast. It was built in 1552 and has a pentagonal plan with a cylindrical tower. It was connected to the surrounding walls. In the 17th century it was a residence and later it was transformed into a prison. Now it houses exhibitions and congresses.

22. This is “S Stefano” Castle. It is a beautiful building on the coast with a fantastic beach.

23. Monopoli is a place where you can do a lot of things: if you like sports and leisure activities, you can find good leisure centres where there are tennis courts, football fields and skating-rings to practice skating or roller-lading. There are a lot of gyms, too, to keep fit. At Pro-Monopli”centre you can practice rowing and at Lega Navale association you can learn sailing. Monopoli has a sport stadium, too, “Veneziani” stadium, where the most important sporting events take place. There are also two fantastic gardens to relax in, just in the centre of the town.

24. If you want to have a walk, you can get to the “lighthouse”, going alongside the harbour and watching the sailors at work or getting their nets and boats ready to go fishing.

25. If you want to relax and chat with friends there are a lot of “coffee houses”, or “pubs” where you can also taste fancy meals and listen too good music. Shopping is fantastic, too. You can find clothing, music, sporting and any other kind of shops everywhere. At the “Tuesday Market” in Rimembranze Road you can buy anything you need and at the everyday market at XX September Square offers you the best fresh fruit, vegetables and fish.

26. The traditional cookery consists of genuine poor ingredients like: oil, good wine, homemade pasta and bread, fresh vegetables and fruits. The most typical recipes of my land are: “Bruschette”( toasted bread with tomatoes, basil, oil and salt). “Orecchiette”, homemade pasta with veg or tomato sauce. “Chycory” and fave- beans. “Roasted meat or fish”. “Rice, potatoes and mussels”.

27. Finally you can enjoy celebrations and feasts which are the symbols of old traditions, taking place in different period s of the year. On 19th March it is “S. Giuseppe” feast. People light bonfire to farewell winter and to greet the spring coming. On the first Sunday of June it is “SS Medici Cosma and Damiano” feast: the statues are carried across the town from the Sanctuary to the cathedral. On 14th August it is “Madonna della Madia” celebration: people remember the Virgin Icon arriving from the sea. People celebrate these events with procession, fireworks, lights and decorations.