Monopoli is a little town near Bari in Puglia, a region in Southern Italy. Its characteristic historical centre of early medieval origin overlooks the sea and it’s surrounded by high walls facing the Adriatic Sea. During the free time, it will be possible for you to admire churches, noble palaces, squares, ancient alleys, the harbour, and even a few beaches.
The conference will be held in Monopoli’s Diocesan Museum, located in the town’s historic center, next to the Basilica of the Madonna della Madia.
Plenary sessions will take place in the great hall on the ground floor, whereas parallel sessions will be held in other rooms upstairs, between the first and the second floor. Reception stand and coffee breaks will be in the building across the square, in front of the Basilica.
Address: Via Cattedrale, 26, Monopoli (BA), Italy
Tel.: +39 (0)80 748002
Website: https://museodiocesanomonopoli.com/en/
About the venue
Monopoli’s Diocesan Museum was established in 2002, in the venues of the ancient Episcopal Seminary, founded originally in 1668. The Museum architecture and its collection testify Monopoli’s transculturality: the town has always been a meeting-port between the West and the East, having been under the influence of the Byzantines, the Angevins, the Aragones and the Venetians. The rooms of the Museum display paintings, icons, manuscripts, and various manufactures of great artistic value. The atmosphere is particularly linked to the religious and cultural history of the area, which has been a centre of pilgrimage for several centuries. The conference is obviously a secular event but we thought worthwile mentioning that religious elements will be visible at the venue.
How to reach Monopoli
By plane
Monopoli is about 45 km from Bari Karol Wojtyla International Airport (BRI) and about 70 km from Brindisi-Papola Casale Airport (BDS). For information on Bari and Brindisi airports: https://bari.airports.aeroportidipuglia.it/en/
How to reach Monopoli Railway Station from the airport:
From Bari Airport (BRI)
- Get a bus to Bari Central Railway Station. https://bari.airports.aeroportidipuglia.it/en/da-e-per-gli-aeroporti/type/bus/
or
Get a train to Bari Centrale FNB. https://ferrovienordbarese.it/
There is a two-minutes walking route inside the station that connects Bari Central FNB to Bari Central Railway Station.
- Then get a train from Bari Central Railway Station to Monopoli Railway Station (lines to Lecce or to Fasano). https://trenitalia.com/en.html
or
Taxi and Rental car services are available to get to Bari Central Railway Station or Monopoli directly.
From Brindisi Airport (BDS)
- You can get a bus From Brindisi Airport to Brindisi Railway Station.
https://brindisi.airports.aeroportidipuglia.it/en/da-e-per-gli-aeroporti/type/bus/
- From Brindisi Railway Station you can get the train to Monopoli Railway Station (line Lecce-Bari Centrale).
For more information: https://trenitalia.com/en.html
or
Taxi and Rental car services are available to get to Brindisi Railway Station or to Monopoli directly:
By train
High-speed train arrive until Bari Centrale Railway Station. See the recommendations above for the last part of your trip.
Local transport and various information on Monopoli
Please note that the Museo Diocesano is located in a ZTL (restricted traffic zone: only authorized residents can access by car). If you are coming by car, parkings are available in Piazza Alessandro Manzoni a few steps away from the conference venue.
Bus lines connect the entire city. For more information: https://www.busmiccolis.it/tipologia-fermata/linee-urbane/#Monopoli
In Monopoli there are some taxi companies and bicycle rental businesses. A public bicycle rental service is provided by the Monopoli tourist Info Point, which is situated in the town’s historic center, not far from the conference venue.
For further information about the bicycle rental service, or for special questions in general, you can contact the Monopoli tourist office directly.
INFO-POINT PIAZZA GARIBALDI
Address: Piazza Garibaldi, 24
Telephone: +39 (0)80 414 0264
Email: info.monopoli@viaggiareinpuglia.it
INFO-POINT TRAIN STATION
Address: Largo Stazione
Email: info.monopoli@viaggiareinpuglia.it
Some local shops also rent bikes: https://noleggiobicimonopoli.com/?lang=en
Accomodation
We recommend seeking accommodation not too far from the conference venue, between Monopoli Station and the historical centre. From Monopoli Railway Station to the Museo Diocesano is a fifteen-minute walk.
In Monopoli’s historical center there are no hotels, only B&Bs and holiday homes, very often hosted in historical buildings. We suggest you to book this types of accomodation to make your stay even more in tune with the Southern Italian atmosphere. Please book your accomodation and travel as soon as possible because Monopoli is a popular touristic destination even at the end of September.