Monopoli a "unique city" to be discovered, between art, faith, tradition and an incredibly crystalline sea.

With Eusto-FYD to discover the ancient fishing village, the true protagonists of the city's history. It is no coincidence that our tour touches the bas-relief placed on a facade of the 16th century Castle of Charles V. It portrays the fishermen of Monopoli at the time of the rescue of the shipwrecked Helenanna on August 28, 1971 off the coast towards Brindisi. Monopoli is a city rich in history and secrets such as the spring that miraculously gushes out in a corner of the old port. The same place where the raft that carried a Byzantine icon to safety still kept in the cathedral docked in 1117. These are the places of our visit, with a common thread linked to the patroness of the city. It is the icon of hodegetria, the Madonna of Constantinople here called "della Madia" from the Spanish almadìa which means raft. And the miraculous beams of his raft are still kept in the cathedral. The altar which dominates the central nave above preserves that venerated icon which is flanked by statues by Sammartino, the same as the Veiled Christ of Naples. Our route stops at the Purgatory church ☠️ to see the mummies and the splendid Leccese Baroque-style altar. And then, after a nice and easy walk, you go back to Piazza Garibaldi to see the civic tower and the pillory column (where they punished adulteresses and criminals) and the sundial (solar clock). And for those who follow in the footsteps of the Jews in Puglia ✡️ then let's talk about Isaac Habrabanel , let's see where the Jewish Ghetto was and the Rabbi's house, the stories of the first ship that left for Israel from here, the Dallin led by Captain Enrico Levi . Are you ready for a fascinating walk made up of stories, colors and perfumes? Contact me, for you I'm Eusto, the passionate guide of a territory waiting to be discovered. Oh I forgot! Haven't I explained enough about the Castle or rather the Castles of Monopoli? Do you think ghosts and their stories could have been missing? I'm waiting for you to tell you all about them 😉. And for those who love art, a visit to the Diocesan Museum is a must to see Mannerist paintings, bas-reliefs, the golden reliquary, the charta navigazionis (entrance 2 euros, reduced 1 euro). The departure is from the 🍦 Gelateria Gasperini in Largo Plebiscito 9, near the Town Hall . So the first stop is the opposite church of San Francesco d'Assisi. And what about the rose window of San Domenico or the charm of the Madonna del Socco, a Byzantine rock church (entrance for the visit is 1 euro per person). It is no coincidence that the Financial Times has consecrated Monopoli as a destination to visit. Together we can see and visit a city that has been underestimated for too long and is now a constant destination for tourists and cruise passengers eager to move through the alleys that have seen Arabs, Byzantines, Spaniards, Jews, Swabians and Angevins, Aragonese. Rulers who have left their mark on the art and monuments of the place.