Monopoli

For the band of the same name, see Monopoli (band).

Monopoli
—  Comune  —
Città di Monopoli
The harbour of Monopoli.
Coat of arms
Monopoli Location of Monopoli in Italy
Coordinates: 40°57′N 17°18′E / 40.95°N 17.3°E / 40.95; 17.3Coordinates: 40°57′N 17°18′E / 40.95°N 17.3°E / 40.95; 17.3
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Bari (BA)
Frazioni	Assunta, Tavarello, Paglierici, Stomazzelli, Rizzitello, Chiesa dei Morti, Padre Sergio, S.Teresa, Macchia di Monte, Zingarello, Impalata, Cozzana, Gravina, Gorgofreddo, Lamalunga, S.Lucia, Antonelli, Corvino, Capitolo, Santo Stefano, Lamascrasciola, Barcato, S. Oceano, S. Vincenzo
Government
- Mayor	Emilio Romani
Area
- Total	156 km2 (60.2 sq mi)
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Population (31 May 2007)
- Total	49,591
- Density	317.9/km2 (823.3/sq mi)
Demonym	Monopolitani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	70043
Dialing code	080
Patron saint	Madonna della Madia
Saint day	December 16
Website	Official website

Monopoli (Monòpolis in Greek) is a town and comune in Italy, in the province of Bari, region of Apulia. The town is roughly 156 square km in area and lies about 40 km southeast from Bari. It has about 50,000 inhabitants.

The city is important mostly as an agricultural, industrial and touristic centre.

Castle/Abbey of St. Stephen.

History

The area was first settled as a Greek establishment as the city of Gnatia, Monopoli being a smaller outer village known as Dyria, of Peucetian origins.

After the destruction of Gnatia by the Ostrogoth king Totila in 545, its inhabitants fled to Monopoli, from which it derives its name as "only city". In the following centuries the area would be controlled by the Byzantines, Normans and Hohenstaufen, and was a starting point for naval Crusades expeditions, living in that period the peak of its splendour. Later it was a fief under Angevine and Aragonese feudal lords.

In 1484 the city came under Venetian control and saw an economic upswing as a seaport on the Adriatic Sea as a base between Bari and Brindisi, as well as through trading its own agricultural goods. It was frequenelty attacked by Muslim pirates in the following decades. Under Spanish rule Monopoli became a free city in 1545. It became part of the newly-unified Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

The city, lying in the south of Italy Mezzogiorno, enjoyed a certain economic development during the 60's, thanks to the opening of a Tognana (an important Italian ceramic manufacturer) industrial plant. The closure of this plant in the end of the 90's certainly worsened the city's economy; Monopoli's economic recovery in the latest year has mostly been due to new industries (the most important is the MerMec, which produces railway material) and the development of tourism, especially in the coast and the countryside.

Main sights

• Castle of Charles V. Finished in 1522, it has a pentagonal plan. It is located on a promontory which was originally separated from the medieval city. It was restored and enlarged in the 17th century. Starting from the early 19th century, it was used as a jail, a status it kept until 1969. It is currently the seat of art exhibition and cultural events.
• Coastal castle of St. Stephen, built by the Norman lord Godfrey of Conversano in 1086. It was subsequently turned into a Benedictine monastery. It has a circular plan.
• Jerusalem Hospital, founded in 1350 by the Hospitaller
• Cathedral Basilica.
• Palazzo Palmieri (18th century)
• Monte San Nicola (Mount St.Nicholas) faunal reserve. The reserve, lying on the summit of a 290-meter-high hill in the Murge plateau, is important for the presence of some endemic plants.

Twin towns

• Lyss, Switzerland
• Lugoj, Romania
• Vlorë, Albania

External links

• Official website
• Infos
• Information about Monopoli on Wikitravel