Be Puglia | Polignano a Mare quick city guide

The Basics

No trip to Puglia would be complete without visiting Polignano a Mare. Its popularity and iconic status mean that Polignano is one of the more expensive destinations to stay in by Puglia standards. But it is easily accessible by public transport - trains run regularly between Bari and Brindisi and onward to Lecce.

The small but perfectly formed centro storico can be reached through the Porta Vecchia gate. Its winding white-washed streets make exploring an adventure. More so if you follow the poetry.

The streets, walls and doors of Polignano’s old town are decorated with poetry drawn by Guido Lupore, using the tag Guido il Flâneur. His work first appeared in 1992 in the piazzo Santo Stefano, which he dedicated to dolphins. Some of the verses are his, though he more often uses the poetry and words of other writers.

One of his best known works are seen on the Vicolo della Poesia - the poetry steps. Find them on your way through the old town.

With superb seafood (the town’s name - a Mare - gives it away), cool bars (try La Casa del Mojito | Via Annunziata, 19) and chic boutiques - and that view - Polignano a Mare has much to offer.

A brief history

According to ancient legend Polignano a Mare stands on a piece of the Greek coast that drifted across the Adriatic.

Believed to have been founded around the fourth century BC, by Dionysius the 2nd, tyrant of Syracuse for its strategic location to control of the shipping trade.

The ancient Roman Bridge that stands over Lama Monachile was part of the Trajan Way built in 109 AD as an extension of the Via Appia connecting Rome to Brindisi.

Where to Eat

Our biggest challenge is that there is not enough time of the day to fit in all the food we want to eat. Seafood is of course a speciality, and after its beach and Domenico Modugno, Polignano is also famed for its outstanding ice cream.

Pescaria | Piazza Aldo Moro, 6/8 | +39 080 4247600 | epic raw, fried and cooked street food, as the queue that regularly forms outside suggests | famous for its fried octopus panini with cime, garlic and oil, fig syrup, ricotta and pepper and anchovy oil | or try the red shrimp tartare panini with buffalo mozzarella, passion fruit mayo, spinach salad with oil and lemon, Murgina apple, chopped pistachios and Polignano carrot chips | pescaria.it | €-€€

Mint Cucina Fresca | Piazza San Benedetto, 32 | +39 080 4241373 | small and intimate for a romantic dinner | try the fish burger with caramelised pineapple, sprouts, purple potatoes and Polignano carrot spaghetti | closed on Sunday and Monday nights and from the end of October to 21 March | Mint Cucina Fresca | €€-€€€

Casa Mia Trattoria and Pizzeria | Piazza Garibaldi, 38/40 | +39 080 3325161 | info@casamiapolignano.com | traditional trattoria with a modern twist | wood fired pizza oven | home cooking using fresh locally sourced ingredients | we enjoyed our visit, but reviews can be mixed as to service and attitude - you are not likely to be welcome if you order one pizza to share | Casa Mia | €€-€€€

Mario Campanella “Il Super Mago del Gelo” | Piazza Garibaldi, 22 | +39 080 4240025 | gelateria | serving up ice cream since 1935 | photographs of celebrity patrons adorn the walls | try their speciality coffees | website | €

Located in the cliff with terraces overlooking the Adriatic is the visually impressive Grotta Palazzese. We choose not to visit for two reasons. While it has undisputed spectacular views, it is the location rather than the quality of the food diners pay for. For us it represents poor value for money with quality food and dishes available elsewhere at much more economic prices.

In 2019 it received the maximum fine for cooking with out of date meat - a month out of date. It was also found to be using sea bass steaks and fillets, king crab legs, pasta and frozen cuts of meat all without documentation tracing their legitimacy.

If you choose to go, book in advance and be prepared for a menu whose pricing is even more breathtaking than its views.

What To do

Caffé speciale and gelato | Polignano a Mare is also known as ‘la città del gelato’ - the town of ice cream | another speciality is the caffé speciale invented by Mario Campanella, made from espresso coffee, sugar, cream, lemon zest, and Amaretto liqueur.

Lama Monachile and the Roman Bridge | the best place to experience Polignano’s stunning coastline | access via the stone steps behind the bridge or from the ramp leading from Via Conversano | there are no facilities on the beach though it is located in the city centre.

Museum of Contemporary Art - Pino Pascali | Via Parco del Lauro, 119 | +39 080 4249534 | +39 333 2091920 | Puglia’s only permanent contemporary art museum holds temporary exhibitions alongside its permanent exhibition | Museo Pino Pascali

Promenade along the seafront | promenades run both to the north and south of the centro storico | the best views are from the balcone to the south, the bridge and the spiaggia Domenico Modugno | take the steps down from his statue.

Peppino Campanella Oggetti di Luce | Via Conversano, 9 | +39 335 672 6257 | the most amazing lights and glass houseware in a fascinating workshop/gallery tucked away in a little side street | peppinocampanella.it

Santa Maria Assunta | enjoy artifacts made entirely of stone, such as the famous nativity scene, attributed to the sculptor Stefano da Putignano, who was active between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Abbazia di San Vito | the magnificent San Vito Monastery commands a beautiful view overlooking the sea. The hamlet of San Vito is 3.2km north east from Lama Monachile.

The Red Bull Diving Competition

Since 2009 Polignano a Mare has hosted the Italian round of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series an international diving competition.

The competition sees men and women dive from platforms placed at 27 and 21 meters above the sea level.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will return to Polignano on 25 September 2022 for the 2022 series finals.

Volare

Find the statue of Domenico Modugno the Italian singer who co-wrote and originally performed Volare; the most famous song never to have won the Eurovision Song Contest and the most-played Italian song in the world.

Modugno was born in Polignano a Mare, and the locals are extremely proud of their famous citizen. The statue shows Modugno singing in his famous Volare pose - arms outstretched, face to the skies.

The song came third in the 1958 contest.

In 2005 Nel blu, dipinto di blu was ranked second on the list of the "all time favourite songs of the Eurovision Song Contest," behind ABBA's "Waterloo". ABBA's former member Benny Andersson commented that he himself had voted for it.

Getting there

Polignano a Mare sits on the main Bari - Lecce train line. From Bari it’s around 25 minutes, and usually cheaper than the bus.

By car from Bari | north - exit the SS16 at the Polignano a Mare Nord junction | south - exit at the Polignano a Mare Sud junction | stay on the road, it will take you right to the centre of Polignano.

We usually drive down to Piazza Aldo Moro and park in the streets around there. If not, you can drive up to the train station and park around there - it’s less than a 10 minute walk back to the piazza and about 300 meters more to Lama Monachile. Otherwise turn off in the direction of the sea and try around Piazza Trinita.

Check out the parking section in our Big Driving in Puglia FAQ for information on free | pay parking spaces. If you are using public transport here’s our guide to getting around Puglia using public transport.

Alternatively…

Why not try the much less visited Santa Cesarea Terme. Geologically as impressive, with hot water baths and some spectacular outdoor swimming spots. South of Otranto, about 35 km (21 miles) from Lecce, Santa Cesarea Terme overlooks the Adriatic atop a plateau that plummets dramatically into the sea.

 

More | read our Driving in Puglia Guide | if you are visiting Puglia for this summer here’s how to choose the perfect base for your stay in Puglia | read our definitive guide to gay Puglia for LGBTQ+ travelers | check out our city guide to Ostuni | stay for Salento Pride in Lecce on Saturday 16 July 2022.