Casa Creta

A 17th-Century Puglian Palace Turned Townhouse

The beautiful handiwork of the creative duo behind Milan- and Ostuni-based Contrada Cinera, this townhouse occupies the top two floors of a 17th-century palace and boasts a whitewashed, cacti-bordered rooftop terrace in the shadow of Monopoli’s cathedral. Its lower level hosts a spacious living area with custom-built sofas and a kitchen with similar bespoke built-ins. Additional furnishings were found in the Valle d’Itria’s antique markets and shops, and textiles and décor accents offer the old walls a more easygoing, contemporary context, given their earthy, neutral, textural styling.

The townhome’s stunning cotto floor is its defining feature. It is unusual for the region, handmade, and laid in a herringbone pattern that mimics historical parquets. Upstairs, two double bedrooms offer private baths outfitted with rustic stone sinks and showers. And finally, a rooftop terrace crowns the former palace, overlooking Monopoli’s center, with front and center views of the city’s cathedral and a glimpse of the sea. A second kitchen (induction) and dining table outdoors mean alfresco meals with magnificent views are made easy.

Around

Only steps from the town’s main square and city beach, the townhome benefits from being on a quiet residential street. Monopoli is unique in offering a glimpse of the southern Italy of yesteryear, with its weathered fishing port vibes and wide crescent port on the Adriatic Sea. A maze of streets swirl through its Centro Storico, where Gothic facades and modest fisherman’s homes share space with popular seafood cafes and taverns, shops and restaurants, and the easily accessible city beach. You know the look—a patchwork of dangling laundry, balcony doors thrown open, elders guarding street-level entries, and cats slinking hurriedly across cobblestone. Monopoli gives a polaroid capture of la dolce vita at its simplest and most uncontrived—not big on glamour, but long on atmosphere and essence.

Outside the city, the region of Puglia is known for its trulli homes, whitewashed lamias, labyrinthine villages, crystalline waters and fragrant herbs, not to mention olive oil, fresh seafood and stellar garden-to-table gastronomy. Monopoli makes a great base for exploring the region. Check out the villages of Cisternino and Locorotondo, the white villages of Ostuni and Alberobello (a UNESCO site), and the well-heeled neighboring port village of Polignano a Mare. Or simply head to the coastline, where the Adriatic Sea’s beaches on the outskirts of Monopoli present bright blue waters, deep coves, and relatively empty sands.

Location

Nearest airports: Bari (50km), Brindisi (65km)

Best time to visit

April to November