Monopoli's old town occupies a small promontory between the old fishing harbour and the modern port. Its lanes are narrow and whitewashed in the Puglian style, with wrought-iron balconies draped in bougainvillea. The area around the harbour — Porto Vecchio — is the most animated, with fishing boats moored alongside restaurants and bars. The best approach is to ignore the map and wander: the old town is small enough that you cannot get seriously lost, and most of the interesting corners reward aimless walking.
Centro Storico
Whitewashed lanes and a lively old fishing harbour