alltheflavorsandcolors: Puglia (Apulia) region in Italy: 7 towns, 7 stories

miercuri, 10 octombrie 2018

Puglia (Apulia) region in Italy: 7 towns, 7 stories - Part IV Monopoli & Bari

Monopoli

Monopoli is not only the name of the famous board game, but also the name of the most beautiful corner Puglia has to offer. Easy reachable from other attractions in the region (Polignano a Mare is only at a 15 minutes' drive away), this small seaside village is the dream of every traveler looking for beautiful scenery.

Start your visit from Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, the heart of this wonderful village, full of restaurants, bars and little stores, walk along the secret passageways and narrow streets, then head to the charming small harbor to check out the boats and the fishermen.

Close to the village center you'll reach cozy beaches, filled with lounges and umbrellas perched on the top of rocks. Near the beach, numerous terraces await for you to enjoy cocktails and local gelato.

Bari

After visiting the picturesque places described before, Bari did not impress me much. However, as it is the largest city in the area, close to the main airport and very well connected with all other towns and villages around, I consider it to be a good option for camping here. Sure, you will see the small, blue boats, the harbour, the historic buildings, but, somehow, it lacks the charm of the other towns in Puglia.

The most memorable place in Bari has been a local restaurant, where I arrived thanks to the great reviews on Trip Advisor and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Il-Rustico/152265264813394?ref=br_rs). Pizzeria Il Rustico has gained first place in matters of local cuisine, as I had here the best dinner in my Puglian road trip. The restaurant is mostly visited by locals and, though the prices are low (full menu costs only Euro 10), the quality of the ingredients is high.

For accommodation, B&B Oz (http://www.bedandbreakoz.it/en/) has met all my needs. Housed in a historic building close to the city center, having big, cozy rooms and a savory breakfast served on a large semi-covered terrace, B&B Oz satisfies even the most pretentious tastes.