Abbey of Santo Stefano (source: Visual Puglia )
Just a few kilometres from the eastern entrance to the town of Monopoli, the Santo Stefano complex is a former abbey that stands on a rocky outcropping that was known as the “Turris Paola” during the height of the Roman Empire. It was built by Benedictine monks and was later converted to a hospital by the Gerosolimitano order. At the end of the 16th century it came into the hands of the Knights of Malta who used it as an estate until the beginning of the last century. It was privatised in the period of Joachim Murat and today the complex is still private property.
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Murge are composed of rectangular-shaped calcareous tableland marked by the Ofanto river, the 'Messapi threshold', Basilicata and Adriatic Sea. Murge territory is partially protected through the homonymous park. It encloses an astonishing variety of landscapes: caves, sanctuaries, defensive strongholds, churches and rock settlements, small towns and big cities. Coastal cities such as Bari, Mola, Polignano offer tourists a right mix of limpid waters, beautiful beaches and an extremely wide historic as well as artistic panorama. On the contrary, in the northern part of the region Andria and Altamura attract tourists with their history and rich food heritage.
The Adriatic Coast of Bari territory is characterized by several cities overlooking the coast with their medieval centers. Apulian capital stands ashore with its Castle, close to smaller cities which allow spending beautiful, relaxing vacations at close touch with history
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Northern Murge are characterized by evocative Medieval towns, small fortified villages where that defended populations during invasions. Andria is famous for Castel del Monte, with its classical octagonal layout, built by Frederick II as hunting manor. Altamura makes a bread that puts together the fragrance of wheat and color of the Apulian sun
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia