Casa Taralli & Casa Polpo

It's right there in the name—book one of the two vacation apartments in the fishing village of Monopoli and you know you’re in for a culinary treat. Casa Polpo is named after the octopus species that likes to swim off the coast, and Casa Fava after the broad bean that often finds its way into the pots. Puglia’s beach days on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, strolls through the city of Bari or exploration of the Salento peninsula with Lecce and its cultural monuments leave a lasting impression, but combining them with south-eastern Italy’s culinary delights takes it all one step higher. The region is the breadbasket of the country—vegetables, fruit, grapes, and olives grow in abundance. And when the fishermen return in the early evening, their freshly caught seafood goes straight to the shops. Everywhere you go, you will be served superb Mediterranean cuisine: orecchiette (the ear-shaped pasta!) with cime di rapa and anchovies or a puree of the eponymous beans with cicoria. Of course, they taste even better in the picture-book setting. The apartments, which host Imke Jurok, creative director from Hamburg, has renovated and designed, are located in the labyrinth of alleyways in the old town of Monopoli, where all the houses seem to be connected to each other. Colorful laundry flutters from the balconies, the Nonnas sit in front of their houses chatting and you can hear the surf on the rocks outside the city wall. Casa Polpo was once a captain's residence, has ceilings up to 4.70 meters high and is criss-crossed by 17th century Gothic arches. “Casa Taralli” comes in cheerful pastel tones, featuring an open kitchen and dining area and a cozy bedroom.. What both have in common is their modern, minimalist design, attention to detail and plenty of space for the dolce vita.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The feeling of being right in the middle of small-town Italian life ¬ shops, cafés and restaurants are just around the corner
• The authentic charm of the fishing village of Monopoli with its many churches and beautiful 17th century buildings
• That historic buildings have been creatively redesigned into apartments: In the Casa Polpo, cooking used to be done over an open fire, today that spot is a rain shower—the only one in the world under a chimney, where you can see the sky nine meters above
• The understated interior of both apartments with lots of concrete, warm elements such as wood and rattan and and a color scheme that instantly puts you in a good mood. 
• In keeping with the theme of indulgence, the dining area forms the heart of the accommodation and is connected to the living area in each apartment.
• The balcony overlooking the alley in Casa Polpo—a wonderful place to watch the hustle and bustle over a cappuccino or a glass of wine
• The small town beach Cala Porta Vecchia is only two to three minutes away—according to the host, it takes one minute longer in flip-flops.
• Secluded bays, wide sandy beaches and the rocky coast are nearby, as well as spots for diving and snorkeling. Another good idea is to hire a boat and sail from bay to bay
• Monopoli’s hinterland with its many prickly pears and green olive groves. Cities such as Locorotondo, Ostuni, Lecce or Alberobello with its cone-shaped houses, called trulli, are also not far away and definitely worth a visit.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Casa Polpo extends over 75m² and is located on the 1st floor. It has one bedroom with a king-size bed. The apartment is large enough for 2 people (plus a child).
• Steep steps lead up to the 2nd floor to the 45-square-meter apartment Casa Taralli, which features a bedroom with a queen-size bed and an en-suite bathroom, offering space for 2 adults and a small child.
• The minimum stay for both apartments is five days (which always feels far too short!).
• The accommodations are just a stone's throw away from each other—perfect for a vacation with friends
• Both apartments have satellite TV, free WiFi, and air conditioning
• The apartments have well-equipped kitchens with dishwasher, fridge with freezer compartment, stove and oven, mocha maker and Italian cookbooks, so that you can put the market-fresh vegetables and the catch of the day to good use.
• Hand and bath towels are provided, you must bring your own beach towels.
• It takes about three quarters of an hour to get from Bari airport to the apartments.