Monopoli- Egnazia- Savelletri- Fasano- Ostuni- Cisternino- Locorotondo- Alberobello- Noci- Putignano- Castellana Grotte- Monopoli.
All the charm of Puglia is to be found along this route which embraces the loveliest and most popular tourist resorts in the region. The towns on the coast, all sea, sun and history are joined by those immediately inland, each known for something "special": caves, forest, trulli. Start from Monopoli, a large agricultural-industrial centre with a very busy port, of Mediaeval origin also known for its oil production and tourist amenities (holiday villages). Follow the rocky coastline past Torre Cintola and you will soon come to Torre Egnazia, and the ruins of of Egnatia, the ancient Roman town built on the sea.
Proceed on the coast road to Savelletri (with its nice harbour) and here turn right onto an inland road that, in just a few kilometres, leads to Fasano, with its Safari park, but above all with a beautiful forest standing in a charming scenic position just outside the town; this is a popular seaside resort with good amenities. After leaving Fasano the straight road takes you through lush olive groves to Ostuni, the white town, a farming centre and major centre of the ancient Messapia. Compact in the Greek style (it greatly resembles the village on the island of Santorini), it is of Greek origin also in its name of Astunéon, which means new rock. There is a stunning view on arrival: a town clinging to the top of three hills, all its houses perfectly whitewashed (they are repainted regularly every year).
After leaving Ostuni, take the s.s. 16 towards Cisternino: this is the gateway to the magic Puglia of the trulli, visited every year by thousands of tourits. Cisternino offers an oriental charm; it stands on a small hill from where the eye sweeps over both Locorotondo and the Itria valley dotted with white trulli standing amid the green trees and cultivated fields. Just a few kilometres of this splendid scenery accompanies you to Locorotondo, a picturesque circular-plan town which stands on the top of a rise in the heart of Le Murge dei trulli. At Locorotondo, perfect in its geometrical symmetry, there is a trullo-shaped church. After leaving Locorotondo, after 9 km you come to Alberobello, almost fairy-tale in appearance, another must for those who want to know Puglia.
From Alberobello turn left for Noci, with an obligatory stop at the pre-Romanesque church of the masseria Barsento, with its characteristic "chiancarelle".
Noci is a heavily-populated agricultural centre and holiday resort standing on the highest part of the Murge plateau. From Noci descend trough now familiar scenery dotted with trulli and, after the stop at the cript of San Michele, head towards Putignano, an agricultural and industrial centre of ancient origin, the venue for a traditional carnival famous as the longest in Italy.
After leaving Putignano, you approach the last stage of this itinerary: Castellana Grotte, a town famous for the splendid caves produced by the large underground rivers and which represent the most spectacular and grandiose speleological complex in Italy. The town, of course, lives almost exclusively on tourism. From Castellana, after 15 km of rather narrow road, passing several masserie in a landscape typical of the sloping Muge, you return to Monopoli.
Monopoli- Egnazia- Savelletri- Fasano- Ostuni- Cisternino- Locorotondo- Alberobello- Noci- Putignano- Castellana Grotte- Monopoli.