We had the pleasure of staying for 6-nights in Faustine’s amazing apartment, Palazzo Manzoni in Monopoli. We rented her smaller, neighboring apartment, Casa Mia - during our stay as well for our two daughters. Those six nights in Monopoli were the highlight of our 3-week trip in Italy! I myself am an extremely tough critique as we are Airbnb hosts ourselves and travel around the world, staying in countless 4 and 5-star luxury boutique hotels - I simply couldn’t find one single thing I didn’t love about Palazzo Manzoni.
With demand being at an all time high in Europe, and a crazy shortage of rooms across the country, Faustine didn’t skip a beat with our stay. The attention to detail, the amazing amenities, the cleanliness of everything - it was all just perfect. She was beyond generous, kind, and easy to communicate with - even dropped off a couple of necessities we couldn’t find nearby one day.
Walking outside the front door and within 30-seconds you’re right in the heart of the historic old town - but just on the very edge of it all, so you also get the taste of the local lifestyle with much easier/quicker access to parking (note - parking is still limited but with a little patience, we always found a spot within a couple of blocks from the apartment). The design aesthetic and work she put into restoring this beautiful apartment shines through in every possible way. From the STUNNING rooftop deck and outdoor shower - to the luxe linens and pillows - and the ability to completely block out all incoming light/sound from the Master Bedroom, it truly is a gem and transformed our experience in Puglia. Only word of caution is to make sure you’re comfortable with stairs - as you’ll be going up and down them for the bathrooms, bedroom, kitchen, and rooftop deck. We had no issues whatsoever, but just something to know in advance.
In terms of the location, all of the best restaurants, bars, and beaches in town are a 5-10 minute walk from the apartment. I had planned dinners in all of the surrounding towns, but night after night we kept finding ourselves staying in Monopoli for aperitivo and dinner because it had the perfect mix of charm and great energy without being overly crowded with tourists. When you’re ready to venture out beyond the city limits, we were only 15-minutes from Polignano, about 30-35 from Ostuni and about 20-minutes from so many other amazing towns and beach clubs (our favorites were Mare Mosso for a Tulum vibe and Pettolecchia il Lido for pure sophistication and class. Pro tip: do not miss the sandwiches from Gustavo in Monopoli - I think we went at least 4 of the 6 days we were there!
All in all - we cannot wait to come back and tell everyone we know to book Palazzo Manzoni AND Casa Mia!