Published on: 9 April 2013 | Last updated: 14 March 2018
This section of the tour heads down to the sea and the towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli - two of the nicest places on this section of the coast - before heading inland again to Gioa del Colle en route to Matera.
Both Polignano and Monopoli are charming places great to just while away some time. There are no spectacular sights (although Monopoli has a cathedral and a castle) - small port towns with a lively an interesting centro storico. Full of stone-paved streets and alleyways leading into little corners filled with potted plants and flowers. Flowers and washing on the balconies.
There are tourists around, but they’re not as touristy and some other places in the area. In the harbour you can watch the fishing boats loading and unloading, and along the sea front are ship repair and shipbuilding yards.
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Distances | |
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Alberobello - Polignano a Mare | 31 kms |
Polignano a Mare - Monopoli | 10 kms |
Options
If you are considering doing this route as a figure-of – 8 using the Bicitalia Ciclovia del Adriatico to follow the coast, then you might want to simply head across country to Gioia del Colle on the next section.
Connections
This section of the route connects with the Bicitalia Ciclovia del Adriatico.
There are two campsites near Monopoli - the closest is the Camping Santo Stefano however this is only open between mid-May and mid-September. The Residence Atlantide a little further down the coast at Capitolo, is open all year round. The gps download folder includes a route between the Atlantide and Monopoli.
More information
Places to stay
Transport and services
Articles in this series
- Puglia Grand Tour – Overview
- Puglia Grand Tour – 1
- Puglia Grand Tour – 2
- Puglia Grand Tour – 3
- Puglia Grand Tour – 4
- Puglia Grand Tour – 5
- Puglia Grand Tour – 6
- Puglia Grand Tour – 7
- Puglia Grand Tour – 8
- Puglia Grand Tour – 9 – onward connections
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