Monopoli

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For the band of the same name, see Monopoli (band).

Comune di Monopoli
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Bari (BA)
Mayor	none

Elevation	9 m
Area	156 km²
Population
- Total (as of 2005-01-01)	49,734
- Density	73/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	40°57′N 17°18′E
Gentilic	Monopolitani
Dialing code	080
Postal code	70043
Frazioni	Assunta, Tavarello, Paglierici, Stomazzelli, Rizzitello, Chiesa dei Morti, Padre Sergio, S.Teresa, Macchia di Monte, Zingarello, Impalata, Cozzana, Gravina, Gorgofreddo, Lamalunga, S.Lucia, Antonelli, Corvino, Capitolo, Santo Stefano, Lamascrasciola, Barcato, S. Oceano, S. Vincenzo
Patron	Madonna della Madia
- Day	December 16
Location of Monopoli in Italy
Website: www.comune.monopoli.bari.it

Monopoli is a town in Italy, in the province of Bari, region of Apulia. The town is roughly 156 square km in area and lies about 40 km southeast from Bari. It has about 50,000 inhabitants.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Twin towns
4 External links

[edit] History

The area was first settled as a Greek establishment as the city of Egnatia, Monopoli being a smaller outer village. After the destruction of Egnatia by the Ostrogoth king Totila in 545, its inhabitants fled to Monopoli, from which it derives its name as "only city". In the following centuries the area would be controlled by the Normans, Byzantines, and Staufer. In 1484 the city came under Venetian control and saw an economic upswing as a seaport on the Adriatic Sea as a base between Bari and Brindisi, as well as through trading its own agricultural goods. Under Spanish rule Monopoli became a free city in 1545. It became part of the kingdom of Italy in 1860.