Monopoli

Monopoli stands on the Adriatic shore of Apulia, its old town and harbour facing the sea beneath fortified walls. The port served the agricultural country inland and formed part of the chain of coastal towns linking the Kingdom of Naples with the eastern Mediterranean. Its small harbour lay close to the houses and churches of the old coastal settlement.

Venice controlled Monopoli during the Italian wars at the end of the fifteenth century. In 1496 the Venetians enlarged the harbour's jetty, investing in the port alongside their other Apulian possessions. Spanish rule followed, and coastal fortifications were strengthened against attacks from the sea. Monopoli's harbour remained a place where the fortunes of a local town and the ambitions of maritime powers met.