Surrounded by a fortress wall and watched over by the 16th-century Castle of Charles V — Monopoli won me over from the very first minute, so I'm happy to recommend it wholeheartedly. 👌 My first order of business, of course, was to try the seafood, which the local eateries serve in true abundance. 🍤🦀🦐🦪
After resting and eating my fill, I wandered through the narrow streets of the old town — the part tucked inside the fortress walls. The original paving has been preserved and can get quite slippery in places, so watch your step. 🚶
I turned down one of the smaller streets with no shops and found myself right in the middle of everyday Italian life — laundry hanging out to dry, doors left open, and women making homemade pasta. 🍝 What struck me most were the little shrines outside each house. Icons of the Virgin Mary and other saints are held in high regard, and their shrines are lavishly decorated with lights and flowers. 🙏
