A sea storm in Polignano, seen from Cala pauraArco Marchesale, Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari (BA) in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia).
Known as "the Pearl of the Adriatic", Polignano is the ideal place to plunge into uncontaminated waters and explore a picturesque historic centre by the sea. Whether you're passing through a longer road trip of the region, or visiting on a weekend break, the town has plenty to entertain, especially on a warm summer's day.
Polignano is believed to have prehistoric origins since archaeological sites and excavations have been found in the surrounding area.
The city developed on a rocky spur, right in front of the Adriatic Sea which offers majestic views. Among many other places, there are several caves, the most important being Grotto Palazzos, undisputed queen of the sea caves of Puglia. Inside this cave, there is the famous Hotel Ristorante Grotta Plazzese which has been awarded one Michelin star.
An interesting area is the old town; here you can feel the legacy of different cultures including Byzantines, Spanish, Normans: the area is accessed by passing under an arch. It consists of different decorative styles, different colors and scents, made up of small streets, white houses, but also stairs with different writings of verses by great poets on them.
Like all tourist sites, especially those by the sea, Polignano a Mare has its own spectacular charm. The city attracts a lot of tourists who are enchanted by this amazing place that seems to be almost a painting.
It is perhaps the most photographed place in Puglia. Indeed, the best photo of the "Wiki Loves Monuments Italia" 2020 competition (the Italian edition of the biggest photo contest in the world) is a shot by Nicola Abbrescia representing Polignano a Mare whipped by the stormy sea.
From Bari airport (48 km) take a shuttle or a light metro to the central train station in Bari. Trains to Fasano, Brindisi or Lecce stop in Polignano a Mare. From Brindisi airport (83 km) reach Brindisi central train station by shuttle. Trains to Bari, Molfetta or Foggia stop in Polignano a Mare.
From highway A14 (Bologna – Taranto) and A16 (Napoli – Bari) reach Bari and exit at Bari nord tool booth. Follow the signs to downtown Bari, Brindisi, Lecce. Continue towards Brindisi on the state road named SS 16 and exit at Polignano a Mare nord. From Brindisi, take the state road SS16 towards Bari and exit at Polignano a Mare / Conversano.
Modèle:Mapframe The best way of getting around Polignano a Mare is, without any doubt, on foot since it is a very small town and all main attractions can be easily reached. Furthermore, it a walk in its narrow streets is a very pleasant experience, especially on sunny days.
Walking from the Polignano a Mare railway station, in Viale Trieste, to Centro Storico (old city) will take about 10 minutes.
Walking from Centro Storico to the famous statue of Domenico Modugno, crossing Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, will take about 5 minutes.
Walking from Centro Storico to Grotta Palazzese, one of the major caves in Polignano a Mare where there is a luxury restaurant, will take about 5 minutes.
Would you like to have Apulia at your fingertips? Polignano a Mare offers everything you need to discover Apulian local products and its landscapes.
This beautiful Italian municipality belonging to the metropolitan city of Bari, gives the opportunity to enjoy the panorama of the Lama Monachile beach. It is a little pebble cove set under its Bourbon bridge, a structure which attracts a large amount of tourists every year. Actually, Polignano’s strong point is the view of the cliffs overlooking the Adriatic sea. Thanks to them, Polignano hosts the Red Bull Cliff Diving, the international diving championship every summer.
Another distinguishing feature is the old town, where you can follow the path of the alleys and let yourself be carried to the balconies. During the journey poems written on the steps of the houses could be found. The only way to enjoy the old town is walking on foot or riding a bike. Lastly, going for a stroll on the Lungomare, you will reach the Domenico Modugno’s statue, honoring the famous songwriter born there.
The main shopping areas are situated in the narrow streets of the old citadel. There are many local shops which sell some local products such as souvenirs, handmade shoes, bags, dresses and jewels. These shops sell some objects for a perfect day at the beach: bikini, masks, fins, beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses. The area is also plenty bakeries which sell some local products such as focaccia, panzerotto, ice creams and pasta; there are also many cosy restaurants serving fresh sea products. Tasting good wine while admiring the sunset standing on a terrace or sitting on the rocks is a real Apulian experience.
As for food specialties, Polignano a Mare offers two main Apulian dishes: the 'panzerotto and the focaccia barese. The former is a stuffed fried, half-moon shaped pasta. It can be stuffed with many ingredients, both sweet and savoury. Focaccia is like a pizza-shaped, flat oven-baked bread garnished with tomato, mozzarella and oregano.
Polignano a Mare is famous for its Caffè Speciale prepared with coffee, sugar, lemon zest, cream and amaretto (obtained from chopped sweet almonds): these are the five magic ingredients that give life to this special coffee, then served warm in small glasses. The combination of coffee and lemon represents its peculiarity, whose aftertaste is felt, but very harmonious.
