~ Puglia is a region with so much to offer and so many different landscapes (if you missed my first post here, I have a bit more information on the region!). After such a magical morning in Ostuni, we were excited to finally get closer to that beautiful ocean! It is SO BLUE. And so, we hopped into our car and drove about 30 minutes to the seaside town of Monopoli.
~ Monopoli is a charming town rich in history, located right on the Mediterranean ocean. I could just wander the tiny little alleyways amidst the whitewashed houses for hours! It’s small enough to wander in a day and it will wow you with beautiful ancient churches and a castle on the sea, Charles V Castle. We were lucky enough to stay at the stunning Don Ferrante boutique hotel, which made our visit even more magical!
~ I really love staying anywhere that has a STORY, and the Don Ferrante certainly does. Located right on the Mediterranean in old town Monopoli, it was once an ancient fortress on the reef! With only 10 rooms, this intimate yet luxurious place took our breaths away.
As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Sonia at reception who was so kind and warm! The staff was so incredibly helpful, moving our car for us and bringing our luggage up to our room before we could even blink (my suitcase is NEVER light…). Sonia showed us around the hotel and directed us to our beautiful room. It was large, very comfortable, and the bathroom & shower were absolutely to die for! I also loved the typical ceramic pottery of the region decorating our room! We had a small balcony with a view of old town Monopoli. We loved our view of the old town, though they do have ocean view rooms available as well! For me, I think there is something so special and authentic about being able to peek your head out of your room and see the ocean down the street on your right, and a nonna watering her flowers to your left.
The way this hotel is situated gives it such an authentic Apulian feel! The rooftop terrace was such a highlight for me, and I can only imagine what it must be like in the summer! I think it’s what makes the Don Ferrante so special. The first level has a pool that overlooks the bright blue ocean as well as tables and chairs for eating, lounging, or just taking in the view. The second level was so stunning! You could see the authentic rooftops of old Monopoli, as well as the entire coast of the region. From June until August, this part of the rooftop also serves as a restaurant in the evening (can you imagine dining al fresco with this view?!). There were a few stairs up to the third level with an amazing sun bed and an even better view of the ocean and the town. As the sun went down, we watched the bright moon come out and took some breathtaking photos!
The next morning, we had no idea what a treat we were in for as we headed down to breakfast. Their breakfast buffet was served in a XVI century gunpowder store with a stone barrel vaulted ceiling and our table overlooked the waves crashing into the reef just below! (see the photos below)
If you are heading to Puglia and Monopoli is on your list, you should absolutely stay at the Don Ferrante, as it was the reason our visit to Monopoli was so special!
~ Outfit Details: White Dress 
~ Outfit Details: Skirt ~ Tank ~ Similar Earrings ~ Similar Sunglasses ~ Necklace ~ Clutch (old) but loving this embellished scalloped clutch here for spring ~ Wedges from last season(my favorites), but I found them! Here in sizes 6, 7.5, & 11, and here they are in sizes 8 & 9.5! Similar wedges from this season? Loving these & these ~
~ Thanks to the Don Ferrante for partnering on this post and to Fizia Wang for her help with photography! Stay tuned for Puglia Part 3 soon…it’s one you won’t want to miss!
Gratefully with love,
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Rhiana
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