La Porta Vecchia
Monopoli, Italy

Bed & Breakfast Porta Vecchia B&B is an historical building from the 1700s, and was once used as offices for the clergy from the neighbouring San Leonardo church. Located in the heart of the old town, with its museums, ancient chapels and traditional restaurants, the B&B is only 50 metres away from the local sandy beach, and it’s the ideal base for exploring the cultural and natural splendours of the region.Mornings in Monopoli are bright and colourful, and at this time of day in our B&B, we take particular pride in our local produce. Depending on the season, our homemade bread, biscuits, cakes, yogurts and jam are served either in our traditional galleried area built in local “tufo” stone or on our splendid roof terrace with inviting views of the Monopoli coastline.
The comfortable bedrooms with period furnishings all have en suite shower rooms, central heating, air conditioning and tv. Cots can be provided on request. Rooms are cleaned and linen changed daily.
A studio apartment with open plan kitchen area is available for families (maximum 3 adults plus cot)

Monopoli, situated in the province of Bari, extends along the Adriatic coast and is a predominantly flat territory. An exception to this is “Loggia del Pilato”, a natural terrace that dominates over the underlying flatlands. There are 25 sandy beaches along the 13 kilometres of sea front. The agricultural aspect of the territory is divided into 99 districts (contrada) identified by the presence of fortified farm houses, churches, rock dwellings and villas; the predominant crops are olives, almonds, fruit orchards and horticultural crop rotations. The name Monopoli means sole city and was most probably utilised for the first time when the citizens of the nearby Gnaza, destroyed by the Goths of Totila, moved into what was considered at the time only a small village. As with many other towns in the region, Monopoli was ruled over the years by the Normans, Byzantines and the Swabians, Under Venetian rule and thanks to the expansion of the port, the city attracted great interest from foreign markets. Following Spanish and Austrian rule, the city was annexed to the kingdom of Naples state and then to the kingdom of Italy.

The most distinguishing monument of the town is the Castle of Carlo V, a Aragon fort built upon an earlier Benedictine monastery, refurbished by Carlo V as defence from sea attacks to the city and these days a centre for exhibits and conventions. In Largo San Giovanni, at the centre of the town the Gerosolomitano Hospital is situated, founded in 1350 by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The old town is still surrounded by well persevered remains of the city wall. The fortified farmhouses have survived the years in perfect condition and are positioned in the middle of the seascape, at the base of the hills and on the inland plains. Nearby there are a number of interesting tourist towns that can be easily reached such as Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Castellana Grotte, Ostuni and Fasano.
Of the many events held in this town, the procession for the Santi Cosma and Damiano is worth a mention, celebrated during the last week of June, together with the suggestive re-enactment of the landing of the float carrying the Madonna della Madia that occurs on two separate occasions: 14th August and the 16th December.

The first stop on the itinerary is Alberobello, world heritage site of UNESCO and centre of the Trulli District, home to the greatest concentration of trulli. The village, which preserves its old-time charm, offers a unique opportunity to admire the ancient art of the trullari at the Maffei workshops. The second stop of the day is at Locorotondo, whose white houses dominate the valley. Make sure you pop into the church of S. Maria della Greca for a quick look around.