Tourist routes in Monopoli -  Puglia southern Italy

- CATHEDRAL built in 1107 and completely rebuilt in the eighteenth century, the cathedral of Monopoli is one of the most attractive examples of Baroque in the entire Apulian region. In Cathedral you will find also the Byzantine icon portraying the Madonna della Madia - legend tells that the sacred image was washed up from the sea on a stack of trunks, that were then used for the building of the trussed roof - very well-preserved and of fine workmanship, it dates from 1280.

- SANTA MARIA DEGLI AMALFITANI near the port of Monopoli stands the small church of Santa Maria degli Amalfitani, a Romanesque building erected at the beginning of the twelfth century on a pre-existing rock settlement.

- ABBEY OF SANTO STEFANO a fortified complex built in 1086 on the orders of Godfrey of Altavilla, Count of Conversano. The remains of an old church survive in the inner courtyard, still inside there are the visible remains of the Roman settlement of Turris Paola, one of the landing places for nearby Egnazia.

- CASTLE bounded on three sides by the sea and protected on the fourth by a moat that no longer exists, the castle of S. Stefano was erected at Monopoli by the Aragonese during the first half of the fifteenth century.

- PURGATORIO CHURCH with images of skeletons on its doors. It is open for mass only from 6–7 pm and it is strongly recommended to visit it during the time. Inside you will find familiar Baroque interior (still under restoration) but on the adjusting chapel you will find mummies of some local citizens. If the church is closed then you can watch some of the mummies through the street window.

- PALAZZO PALMIERI central square of the Centro Storico. Here stands the magnificent San Teresa Church.

- MADONNA DEL SOCCORSO CHURCH old grotto with frescoes was dug out of a natural cavity in the rock.

THE COUNTRY

It consists of 99 districts (“contrade”) characterized by the presence of ‘Masserie Fortificate’ of ancient roman origin, Rupestrian Churches, neo-classic villas and houses. The outstanding landscape consists of almond and olive trees, apart from fruit trees of all sort and vegetables cultivation.