Back in monopoli

 We stayed here last year and I really enjoyed it, smallish old town, good food, bars, meandering little streets and walkways, surprising things behind big doors. I still like it, totally worth a visit.

The weather was cooler again this morning, cool enough to send me back into my room to grab a long sleeved shirt, and even then I felt I needed to shelter from the wind. 

Basilica Concattedrale di Maria Santissima della Madia is the name of this beautiful church but there are 18 others to choose from, including one which has depictions of death on the door, mummified administrators in the crypt and is a place to go and pray for those in limbo - it's a purgatory church. Today there were three weddings at the Basilica and honestly, we need to up our game in terms of wedding clothes. The prize went to the couple who both were a deep purple - his suit and her dress. Men were mostly in sneakers with their Italian suits, and it was all sparkle and gold for shoes for the women. It was a feast of colour watching everyone go in. No prize for the tour bus group who pushed past and went in to look at the church. Actually negative points if that is possible.

I do like a good story, and for the Basilica, it was erected in 1100s and the story goes that they ran out of beams for the roof - construction halted until one day a boat drifted into the harbour (complete with a madonna) and the beams on the boat were the perfect fit. This legend (sorry, true story) is re-inacted annually.

There are a fair number of icons in the street too, just to make sure you are covered if you cannot get to one of the 19 churches.

Last night I went to an art exhibition, works by Paolo Ventura. Each room in the abandoned palazia told a short story. One was a man desperately trying to get a woman's attention - first smiling, then flowers, then gifts and finally he just climbed into her suitcase. One had a poem to go with it - a magician performed each night culminating in making a child disappear - then he would meet the child outside and they would go home together - until one night when the child wasnt there to meet him - photo shows a misty Milan with the man searching for the child. It was atmospheric, really enjoyed it.

Tomorrow, it is pack up time, train to Bari, train to Rome, so a travelling day. Two nights in Rome and then the flight home. That went quickly didn't it!

And just because, here are two more photos of the vehicles around the narrow streets here.