Monopoli

Monopoli

Among the things to see in Monopoli, Porto Vecchio it is certainly an excellent starting point to begin your walk to discover the city.
It is an iconic place, which carries with it a strong identity despite - admiring the buildings that surround it - it is easy to perceive strong Gothic, Venetian and Byzantine influences, testifying to the importance that the port has had over the centuries in commercial exchanges. with other civilizations.

The highlight is undoubtedly Palazzo Martinelli, framed by the surrounding walls and overlooking the sea, with its large windows and the loggia with round arches that so much suggest Venice, in memory of when Monopoli was conquered, towards the end of the 1400s.
To complete the picture, dozens of colorful boats moored side by side and ready to set sail, together with their fisherman.

Dating back to the 1500s, the Castle of Charles V it is an important symbol of Monopoli, located on the promontory called Punta Penna.
Majestic and imposing, massive and square, it certainly cannot go unnoticed, so much so that from Porto Vecchio it can be seen clearly in the distance.
Originally used as a prison, more or less until the 1960s, it is now a location for meetings and conferences as well as the site of an interesting museum which retraces the history of the city and its relationship with the sea, from the Bronze Age to the early 1800s.

Walking along the perimeter of Monopoli, along what were once the surrounding walls erected for protection, it is easy to come across the ancient towers, those that were used to monitor the approach of enemies.
The best known is certainly the Torrione Santa Maria, with its large and large cannon, from which you can clearly see the Castle of Charles V on one side while on the other the sea shimmers as far as the eye can see, between blue, clear and very limpid waters.

Established on June 29, 2002, the Diocesan Museum of Monopoli it is located in the premises of the former episcopal seminary. Inside you can admire numerous canvases and icons, an ancient nautical chart, manuscripts, liturgical objects and even a relic of the cross in silver and enamel.
The museum is open all year round and free guided tours can also be organized upon reservation.

Partially hidden among the narrow streets of the center, the Monopoli Cathedral it is a jewel of rare beauty, so austere and robust but at the same time even delicate and elegant.
I see it and I am struck by its details, by the thin latticed windows and by all those inlays that enrich the facade.