B&B Casa Cimino

Our seven-night stay at B&B Casa Cimino made a great base for seeing the region. The quiet street is within easy walking distance of restaurants, cafes, delis, the harbour, and places of interest. The train station is about a 15-minute flat walk away. We found the trains good and very cheap compared with the UK. We took day trips to Bari and Lecce by train, and joined coach trips from Polignano a Mare to Ostuni and Locorotondo, then from Bari to Matera and Alberobello. There are coves and bays within a 30-minute walk, and the B&B has a roof terrace for taking in Monopoli's sights and sounds. Massimo and his son Mirko communicated well about the booking and kept in touch throughout via WhatsApp. We were on the top floor. The room and ensuite were spotless, with a good shower, toiletries, a safe, and a firm but very comfortable king-size bed. Rooms are serviced every three days, with towels changed regularly. Entry to both the B&B and room uses key codes provided before arrival, so there are no keys to carry or lose. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30 in a nicely decorated, cellar-like room. Massimo brings a varied selection from a local bakery each morning, including pastries, sweet tarts, biscuits, focaccia, and croissants, as well as toast and bread, jams, soft cheese, fresh fruit, juice, water, coffees, teas, natural yoghurt, and what looked like cornflake cereal. There's a large fridge with a basket for each room's own food and drinks, plus bottled water and other standard drinks for purchase. If you can't make breakfast, Massimo gives you a voucher for a drink and croissant at the nearby Cafe Napoli. We had an early train back to the UK, and he kindly offered to set aside breakfast items from the previous morning and be there at 7:30 to serve hot drinks. The owners and staff were friendly and wonderful. The B&B is small and right in the center of old Monopoli. We'd happily use it again.