Loggia di Pilato – Monopoli

Loggia di Pilato – Monopoli is a coastal thermal, soaring and flatland site above the Adriatic near Monopoli, in Puglia, southern Italy. Launch is short and steep, with loose small stones that call for extra care on the run, though bushes at the end limit how far a bad launch can carry — so even a mistake here has fairly contained consequences. The local flying club keeps a windsock and other wind indicators in place at launch. Landing is long enough but not especially wide, and works best when the marine breeze lines up parallel to the field's longer axis; watch for a handful of trees on the field, and note that the ground itself isn't flat but slopes fairly steeply, generating its own thermal activity — pilots are advised to shed height while still over the upper part of the field rather than deep in. Wind direction at the landing is shown not by a windsock but by fabric strips tied to a tree roughly center-right of the field, as seen from the cliff above.

Launch & conditions

Launch is short and steep, with loose small stones that call for extra care on the run; bushes at the end limit how far a bad launch can carry. The local club keeps a windsock and wind indicators in place.

Getting there & local rules

Access to the flying zone is arranged through the local paragliding association that holds the site's rental agreement for the takeoff and landing areas, made in coordination with the WWF nature reserve. The field also sees student pilots from a local flying school, mainly March through October, so watch for them sharing the space.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Loggia di Pilato – Monopoli, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Loggia di Pilato – Monopoli with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.