Staying at Casa La Torre was the perfect way to experience Monopoli (and the larger Puglia region in general). The bed and breakfast is a short walk to the cutest little beach, where I would go for a dip most mornings. You’re never too far from the perfect spot for aperitivo followed by a finger-licking meal. I was traveling alone and felt completely safe at the location and in Monopoli in general. I was having such a good time and felt so good that I extended my stay! The owners are accommodating, reactive, nice and so kind. I hIghly recommend Casa La Torre for your trip to Monopoli, you won’t regret it.
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Jessica, United States
Excellent location and stay in monopoli! would stay again and again!
Incredible stay!!! we were a couple and a friend and the layout was perfect with two levels – each with own bathroom and bedroom. Great private roof. excellent location and wonderful staff
Dimitri, Belgium
Exceptional location in the historic center at 100m walk from the sea, with its small beach. 15 minutes walk from the train station and car rental. I stayed 6 days in the penthouse apartment. It was recently decorated with care and taste, high end finishes and rich equipment. Nice terrace with table, chairs, etc, and panoramic roof without any opposite. Impeccable cleanliness. Linen provided. Plush and recent bedding. Close to shops (food and other impacts) and various restaurants at all prices, without being affected either by noise or the smell of kitchens. Natalia, the owner was really super considerate (without being intrusive) very attentive, in addition to being relaxed, very friendly and multilingual (English, French, Italian,.). I could still go on for a long time praising the place… and Monopoli, which is well worth Polignano or other more “famous” coastal villages. I recommend the place without hesitation! Go, go , go 😎 Worst part was having to leave the apartment and Monopoli
Davide
Esperienza senz’altro al di sopra delle aspettative! L’appartamento dove ho alloggiato è davvero ben arredato e molto pulito. ✨
Al check-in mi è stato offerto un ottimo vino locale di benvenuto. La struttura si trova in una piazzetta silenziosa a due passi dalla spiaggia e la gente del posto rende l’esperienza autentica. 🏠
L’host si è dimostrata da subito disponibile e ha arricchito il mio soggiorno con preziosi consigli su dove mangiare tipico pugliese e godere di ciò che il centro storico ha da offrire. Grazie di tutto, tornerò senz’altro!
Beatrice
La nostra camera era bellissima, pulita e dotata di tutti i confort (compreso aria condizionata).
Il posto a due passi dalla spiaggia e dal centro.
Le titolari disponibili e gentilissime.
Lo consiglio caldamente!
Irene
Struttura fantastica, in pieno centro ma defilata rispetto alle vie principali più “rumorose”, camere esteticamente molto belle a prezzi giusti, colazione in ottimo bar convenzionato, gentilezza e prontezza nel rispondere alla mia richiesta di prenotazione, check in e check out da poter effettuare in autonomia, mi sento di consigliarlo senza alcun dubbio!!!
Traditional homemade focaccia recipe from Puglia
Loved by people of all age from all over the world, how can you say no to the traditional homemade focaccia recipe from Puglia? To help you spend the time at home in a more pleasant and tasty way, we are now sharing the original recipe of the focaccia, an art and a passion for Apulians!
According to the blog Camminvattin the origins of the famous focaccia date back to Phoenicians. Back in 2nd century BC, Cato tells how the Phoenicians used millet, barley, water and salt to make a delicious round dough. The dough was then cooked on a stone with olive oil, spices and honey. Later on, Romans took over the tradition by offering the food in ritual worships to the gods and during banquets accompanied by wine.
Like any traditional Apulian recipe, the secret of focaccia is simplicity, with quality ingredients being the key differentiator. This is exactly why focaccia is so delicious, especially if accompanied by an chilly Peroni!
Ingredients:
600gr of flour
1 large potato
boiled and mashed
1 yeast (approx. 40 grams, ideally brewer’s yeast)
1 tbsp salt
3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
300gr of lukewarm water (approx. 37 degrees)
1 tbsp sugar
Method (traditional homemade focaccia recipe):
For two medium focaccia (4 people)
Boil the potato, remove the peel and mash it with a potato masher or a fork.
In a bowl or preferably on a wooden base, mix flour and potatoes with your hands.
Make a well in the center and place yeast, sugar, oil. Gradually add warm water and salt, ideally the salt doesn’t have to be added close to the yeast.
Knead the dough for 15 minutes until the dough is a soft and smooth. Create two loaves, make a cross on the top of both loaves and cover them with a tea towel and a blanket.
Leave to rise for at least 2 hours.
After the two hours and once the loaves have doubled, take the baking tray, pour the oil and then stretch the dough with your hands until the dough is stretched evenly. Make sure that the olive oil reached the edges of the dough. It’s important to add lots of olive oil so to give crunchiness to the focaccia.
Once the dough has been stretched, it is time to garnish it. You can add tomatoes, vegetables, mozzarella or keep it plain with lots of oregano or rosemary … be creative and pick the ingredients that you love the most!
Leave the focaccia to rise for another half hour (“double rising” is essential) and in the meantime turn on the oven at 200-220 degrees.
. Bake the focaccia for about 25 minutes. Enjoy your focaccia!
Why not try our taralli recipe too? They are delicious! Follow this link
Taralli: Authentic Apulian homemade recipe
Who invented taralli and where they come from? The origin of the word taralli is still uncertain and open to interpretation. Some people believe it is derived from the Latin word “torrère”, to toast, while others think it comes from the Greek word “daratos” which means similar to bread. While its origin is still uncertain, we know that taralli became hugely popular in the south of Italy back in 1400, in a period when famine was raging in the region.
Puglia.comAccording to the legend, the first tarallo was kneaded by a mother who, having no food to feed her children with, came up with the recipe by randomly mixing together what she had in his pantry: flour, olive oil, salt, white wine. All essential products in Apulian cuisine.
For this reason, in a difficult moment like the one that Italy and the world is facing, returning to our origins, tradition and simplicity becomes a duty more than a choice.
Sneak into your kitchen, roll up your sleeves and master your italian cooking skills by making some taralli. And remember, you can make them in whatever shape you like!
Ingredients:
275g Plain Flour
100g White wine
120g Extra virgin olive oil
10g Salt
Method:
- Mix flour, salt and olive oil in a bowl. Whisk together to get a crumbly texture Add the white wine and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is compact
- Move the dough to a flat surface and leave it to rest for about 10 minutes
- Move the dough to a flat surface and leave it to rest for about 10 minutes
- Remove some small pieces of dough, roll it out to form a long 1cm thick strip (less than ½ inch)
- Cut the dough into shorter strips and join the ends together to create a donut shape
- Put the water to boil and simmer 4-5 units at a time. Keep them in the water until they start to float to the top, then place themon a clean and dry tea towel.
- Place the taralli on a baking tray and bake in a preheated static oven at 190°C until golden brown (approximately 20-25 minutes).
- Enjoy the taralli!
Why not also try our recipe for our exquisite Apulian focaccia? Follow this link
Visiting Puglia in winter: things to do
Quoting Danielle Pergament, travel writer for the New York Times, visiting Puglia in winter is far better than in the summer. She writes: “Granted, it’s too cold to swim, but the food is tastier, the shops are emptier and the prices are lower. And the lack of attachment to the beach encourages exploration of the area’s inland charms. It’s like discovering an entirely new Italy — or at least an Italy that is only populated by Italians.”
Many talk about pristine beaches, crystal blue water, clear sky and perfect temperatures… not to mention the most ‘instagrammable’ food and the most glamorous parties by the seaside. But one might wonder, what is the real Puglia?
Beyond bulging burrata and fresh seafood, there’s a culture that waits to be discovered and this is why the cooler season, particularly October and November is a wonderful time to visit the region. From history to gastronomy, nature and leisure, visiting Puglia in winter allows travellers to enjoy the region at its fullest by replacing the busy crowds and the long queues with comfort food, cooler weather and more welcoming locals. It goes without saying that overall you will get better value for money.
Local tradespeople and those in the hospitality sector value visitors all the more for choosing to explore the real Puglia and its inland charms during the off-season. There’s lots of activities and places to explore during the quieter months. The list is long so we are only going to name a few, but you can get a sense of what’s on offer and we’ll leave you to choose.
Torre Guaceto, a hidden jewel between sea and nature and a great attraction for sustainable tourism.
A natural reserve and protected area, Torre Guaceto gives visitors a unique opportunity to relax and reconnect with nature. In the area you can observe a great variety of plants and animals.
This includes 20 types of orchidacee and animals such as falcons, black-winged stilts and a rare species of butterfly called Zerynthia cassandra. We also highly recommend to stop for lunch at Ristorante l’Agrumeto, a down to earth but truly authentic restaurant located in the countryside, not far from the reserve. We also highly recommend to stop for lunch at Ristorante l’Agrumeto, a down to earth but truly authentic restaurant located in the countryside, not far from the reserve.
Walking among hectares of olive, almond, prickly pear or cherry trees in the Valle d’Itria is a wonderful way to spend your day.
Similarly to Torre Guaceto, a day in the countryside is a fantastic way to spend your day. Starting from Monopoli you can head towards Castellana Grotte and after that drive towards the ‘Selva di Fasano’. This wide and hilly forest overlooking the Valle d’Itria and the towns and villages within the region is a gift from nature. You can also visit by one of the many masseria – the typical Apulian farmhouse located on country estates and enjoy the most authentic food there.
Touring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello: a name that speaks for itself.
Located in the heart of Valle d’Itria, its narrow streets and little shops selling all things conical-roofed make it a great spot to visit in autumn. Located 400m high from the sea, Alberobello in the summer could be really hot, given its location right in the middle of the region. Visiting this part of Puglia in winter is far more enticing and Alberobello is a great day out for a day of fun and culture. Time travel in Conversano, a medieval town that has preserved its history and tradition. Even though this is not always the first town visitors go to see in Puglia, Conversano has plenty to offer and is well worth spending time in. For instance, the history of Conversano and its influential families is a throwback in 15th century and European history. Ferdinand 1st, King of Naples, the battles against the Turks and the legacy that the Spanish kingdom has left in the south of Italy in the years to come is an incredible deep dive into medieval history. The castle of Conversano is a great reminiscence of it. Located on a hill overlooking the city this beautiful piece of architecture was in fact the residence of the Counts of Conversano for almost seven centuries, since Norman times.
How to get to Puglia:
The easiest way to get to Puglia is to fly into Brindisi or Bari (regular flights from major Italian and European cities).
We hope you enjoyed this article.
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Monopoli – Guide
Thank you from Casa La Torre.
We want you to truly enjoy Monopoli as a local, so we have put together a guide for our guests to make sure you can make most out of your time here. The guide is listing the main tourist attractions as well as our favourite restaurants, beaches (both pebbly and sandy) and much more.
These are the places where our friends and I genuinely spend time in Monopoli so we hope you will enjoy our recommendations.
If you have any question please do not hesitate to contact us at info@casalatorrepuglia.com We wish you a pleasant time in Puglia.
Please note that by filling the form below you give us consent to contact you with regards to promotions and activities of Casa La Torre.
Federica e Natalia