Pretty city in the province of Bari and overlooking the Adriatic Sea, Monopoli is a must see, there is really a lot, starting from the whole area around the city port, to get to the characteristic historical center where the contrast between the alleys stands out very narrow and the airiness of the squares full of history (Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Palmieri and Piazza XX Settembre, the most famous), with its ancient buildings and the characteristic newsagents in honor of the Madonna della Madia who is the patron saint of Monopoli.
The patronal feast takes place on August 14, in which not only the inhabitants but also many tourists take part. The statue of the Madonna is accompanied by the Cathedral to the port to then see her sail towards the sea and go around the inlet of the city.

The surrounding walls are still present and are truly spectacular, along with a couple of visitable towers and some cannons.
Monopoli also has one of the largest squares in Italy, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele which dates back to the eighteenth century.
Another place that absolutely must be seen is the port, a rather suggestive corner where you can find Venetian, Gothic and Byzantine architectural testimonies, which are proof of the importance that the port has had over the centuries in Italian merchant traffic.

The other striking aspect of the historic center of Monopoli is the large number of churches. Above all, the Cathedral of Maria della Santissima della Madia which, together with the Castle of Charles V and the Palazzo Martinelli Meo-Evoli, represents a triptych of historic buildings that are absolutely worth visiting.
To visit is also the suggestive church of Purgatory where the ossuary of the friars can be found. Just outside the center you will also find the beautiful castle-abbey of Santo Stefano, from there you can then take the opportunity to take a dip in the sea near Lido Santo Stefano.

Inside and outside the town we also find many testimonies of cave churches, carved on the side slopes. To visit the Church of Santa Maria Amalfitana with a beautiful well-preserved crypt.

And last but not least, you should go and admire one of the many Fortified Masserie in Monopoli, buildings that characterize the rural heritage of the city and which are a testimony to the relationship between men, agricultural work and production. The Fortified Farms were born due to the geographical conformation of Puglia, as a defense against the continuous invasions that generally came from the sea. They also became the center of agricultural and social life, where in addition to production and conservation, agricultural products were also transformed and marketed. One of the most beautiful on the coast is certainly the Masseria Spina.

But Monopoli is not just history. Monopoli is also sea. An emerald sea that enchants at any time of the year. Although the coast is largely rocky and with high bottoms, there is the Capitolo exception, a hamlet of Monopoli that instead offers white beaches and seabeds that slope gently, and therefore more suitable for families with children in tow.

Here are some of the beaches of Monopoli where you can spend a pleasant day:
Cala Corvino
It is a small inlet north of Monopoli that makes its way into a high cliff. The beach, perhaps even for its small size, is not very popular, the path to reach it is not so easily practicable, but the scenery will repay you for the effort, among other things, it is one of the beaches of Monopoli that has remained more "wild".

Cala Monaci
This cove is located on the northern outskirts of the city and is characterized by a small free beach. The cliff, in which it insinuates itself, is characterized by several caves. The path, the same one that leads to Cala Corvino, is rather rough, but the panorama is magnificent.

Lido Pantano
It is located on the northern outskirts of the city, the inlet is quite wide, the beach, therefore, is a little larger than the average of the Monopolitane beaches, here is an bathhouse with many services and well connected to the center, thanks to the means public.

Cala Porta Vecchia
It is the first beach south of Monopoli, you can easily get there on foot, the water is crystal clear and always low and the sandy bottom.

Cala Cozze
Until recently it was present only in the nostalgic stories of the grandparents, this cove was, in fact, recreated only in 2013. The water is nothing short of crystal clear and the seabed is low and sandy.

Porto Bianco
It is a very comfortable beach frequented mainly by families, the seabed is sandy and shallow.

Porto Rosso
It is one of the most popular beaches in Monopoli, it is located at the end of the town and is a very large beach, the sand is fine and the seabed remains low even at a considerable distance from the sea, here the water appears an intense blue.

Porto Nero
You can get to this beach along Porto Rosso and continue on foot on the right. In this small strip of land surrounded by rocks the water is transparent and the shallow and sandy bottom, one has the impression of being in the presence of a swimming pool.

Cala Paradiso
It is located in the southern outskirts of the city and is a fairly large sandy cove, mostly managed by private individuals, a small part, however, is a free beach. It is surrounded by rocks that embrace an emerald green sea from which you can glimpse the almost completely sandy bottoms.

Cala Scaletta
The cove is accessed by following a path, the beach is very sheltered, as it is covered on one side by a rocky wall, this makes it the ideal place during windy days. The seabed is sandy and rocky, depending on the stretches, but in general it is shallow.

Copa Cabana
It is a rather wide Cala consisting of a long stretch of sand, interrupted. however, from a large rock. The seabed is sandy and low.

Lido Colonia
It is located on the southern outskirts of the city and, although small, the beach is divided into two parts, one is used as a lido and offers various services, including swimming lessons and rental of sun beds and deckchairs and pinewood tables for picnics, on the other hand, is a free beach.

Lido Purple beach
It is a cove where there is both a beach, which offers many services including a beach volleyball court, and the possibility of using the free beach.

Porto Marzano piccolo
The cove is located south of the city and is located between two very high rock walls, the water, the color of which varies from green to dark blue, is shallow and the bottom gradually changes from being sandy to being rocky.

Porto Marzano
Frequented mainly by children, it can be reached via a small path surrounded by vegetation.

Porto Ghiacciolo
Is located at the foot of the Santo Stefano abbey, it is a long stretch of sand, even the seabed is sandy, the water is green and clear. The name of the beach is due to the rather low temperature of the water.

Lido Santo Stefano
It is a beach located south of the city in the Contrada Santo Stefano area, the bathhouse consists of a sandy beach, which is part of a stretch of rocky coast. The plant can be reached by public transport and remains open from 1st June to 30th September. A short distance from the beach is the Abbey of Santo Stefano, a wonderful structure dating back to 1000 AD.

Cala Sottile
This cove is very hidden, it is surrounded by local vegetation and, also for this reason, not very well known. On windy days it is the right choice, since the water always remains calm.

Cala Verde
It is the last beach before the Chapter, it is a very hidden place, but you can get there easily along the Santo Stefano campsite. The seabed is rocky and the sand, on the contrary, is very fine.

Calette of Torre Cintola
It is located south of Monopoli in Capitolo, the beach is free and owes its name to the ancient watchtower, is characterized by a series of inlets that find space in the limestone rock, these small sandy ravines were created artificially, since the area was once used to remove limestone tuff used in construction.

Lido Azzurro
It is a bathhouse located in the Capitolo area, the beach is a long sandy stretch and has many services.

Lido Millenium
The beach is long and sandy, the sea clean. The lido is privately managed, but access to the beach is free.

Lido Bambù
The beach is sandy and the sea water is crystal clear, it is also the right place for sports lovers. Here in fact there is the opportunity to practice or take courses in wind-surfing, sailing and much more.

Lido Torre Egnazia
The beach is managed by the tourist village of the same name which offers many services, including the possibility of attending swimming, canoeing and surfing courses.

Le Dune
The beach is free and the sea is open, consisting of high dunes which are flanked by a sandy expanse. This is why this beach is particularly suitable for surfers, the show is memorable.

Lido Barcollando
The lido stands on a long sandy expanse and enjoys many services and entertainment: among them a beach volleyball court, a bar, a disco, but above all many green spaces, so as to be a green oasis close to the sea!

Lido Trappeto
The sand is clear and fine and the clear sea with emerald and turquoise reflections, the beach enjoys an excellent position and in addition to the sea view, there is also a pleasant glimpse of the hills. Access to the sea is mostly a path that leads from the beach to the sea.

Lido Sabbiadoro
The beach is immersed in a majestic and timeless landscape: the coast of Olives, offering a suggestive landscape. It is a very nice structure that offers various services in full respect of the environment, there is also a playground for children. The beach is a long sandy expanse, the sea is clean and the water is clear and crystal clear.
 
Lido Le Macchie
The beach is very well cared for and organized, stands on a fairly wide sandy beach. The sea is wonderful even when it is rough and sometimes it happens here. The bar-restaurant area is completely immersed in a very characteristic and pleasant green oasis.
 
Lido Coccaro Beach
This Lido is a sought after place that takes care of every single detail, stands on a stretch of sandy beach surrounded by centuries-old dunes, the stretch of beach is very long and is ideal for walking. Next to this beach there is also a small fishing village.
 
Lido Marina Grande
The beach of this beach is sandy and access to the sea is not obstructed by rocks and stones as it happens in other neighboring beaches. Even when the bottom is rocky, it is smooth and does not create problems. The sea, which is revealed only after passing a small gap that separates the typical dunes, is crystal clear.
 
Lido Pellerossa
The beach is a fairly wide, clean and well-kept sandy expanse, the umbrellas remain well spaced. The sea is very clean and access is not difficult.
 
Lido BelliFreschi
It is one of the last beaches of Monopoli, located almost at the end of the locality of Capitolo, the sandy beach is nice and well-kept. The umbrellas are one step away from the sea, which is very beautiful, and are placed at a right distance from each other.
 
Lido Baia del Sole
It is a fully equipped beach, almost comparable to a tourist village, the beach is sandy and wide, the sea very beautiful. You can also enjoy very large areas of shade, an advantage especially for the little ones.