Monopoli

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

Monopoli (Monòpolis in Greek) 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.

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.

Twin towns

• Lyss, Switzerland
• Lugoj, Romania

External links

• Monopoli.info All infos about the city
• Website of the municipality of Monopoli
• Information about Monopoli on Wikitravel

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Last updated on Monday February 25, 2008 at 04:04:59 PST (GMT -0800)
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