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The Big Guide to Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare - in the blue painted blue

Think of Puglia and you may well picture Polignano a Mare. It has one of the most iconic views of Puglia, often found on the cover of guide books to our region. Oh, and that song you know, “Volare”...

Polignano a Mare has one of Puglia’s most iconic views. Puglia is Italy’s top gay summer destination for LGBT travel with a variety of gay and nudist beaches, gay bars and clubs and a chilled gay scene. Photo by the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.

Nel blu, dipinto di blu

Polignano a Mare. Where the blue meets the blue. One of Puglia’s most famous beaches, but with only pebbles and stones underfoot, not the most comfortable. Quite small, its particularly crowded at the height of summer. Rocky and rapidly deep, nothing beats the experience of swimming out beyond the cliffs that contain the bay. Watch the children and teenagers - and the brave - jump and dive off them all day long.

Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Volare lighting decorations. Photo the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.

Volare, Oh-oh

Cantare, wo-oh, oh-ho. Polignano’s most famous son is Domenico Modugno, co-writer and singer of Nel blu, dipinto di blu - better known as Volare. Frozen forever in time in his famous Volare pose, his statue takes pride of place above the Modugno steps that lead down to spiaggia Domenico Modugno (where you get one of the best views of the old town). The lyrics feature as Christmas lights that still run down the length of Via Roma.

The streets, walls and doors of Polignano’s old town are decorated with poetry drawn by Guido Lupore, using the tag Guido il Flâneur. Photo the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia

Follow the poetry

Guido il Flâneur is the poet who started writing and drawing poetry and verse on the walls and doors of the streets of the old town, but his is not the only work on display.

 The Big Guide to Polignano a Mare

An imposing old town sits atop a 20-metre limestone cliff overlooking the azure waters of the Adriatic. Lama Monachile beach offers one of Puglia’s most iconic views. Wondering around the old town’s knot of winding streets will lead you to one of three Balconata sul Mare. Panoramic terraces with wonderful views of the rocky coastline rising out of the deep blue sea that bleeds into deep blue sky.

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’s 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.

 

The streets, walls and doors of Polignano’s old town are decorated with poetry drawn by Guido Lupore, using the tag Guido il Flâneur. Photo the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia
The streets, walls and doors of Polignano’s old town are decorated with poetry drawn by Guido Lupore, using the tag Guido il Flâneur. Photo the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia

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.

Polignano a Mare is one of gay Puglia’s iconic destinations. Equally inspiring and breathtaking, with one of our favourite restaurants. Gay Puglia guides brought to you by The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.

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.

Mario Campanella “Il Super Mago del Gelo” photo by the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puiglia.
Polignano a Mare, Puglia. The Old Town. Photo The Puglia Guys for the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia
Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Photo The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia

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 Monastery of San Vito near Polignano a Mare The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia guides to Puglia

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.

City Guide to Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Photo the Puglia Guys for the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.
City Guide to Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Photo the Puglia Guys for the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.

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.

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.

Domenico Modugno statue, Volare. Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Photo the Puglia Guys for the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia

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.

 Want some more?

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.

Discover more.

La Cena di Natale | by Marco Ponti

A 2016 comedy set in Polignano a Mare, but with Monopoli doubling in many of the exterior scenes. With Riccardo Scamarcio.

Where’s the sand?

Try Torre Guaceto, about 40 minutes south.

Monopoli

Polignano’s near neighbour is just a short hop. Read our Monopoli guide.

 

GO DEEPLY INTO PUGLIA

The endless olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see and clusters of trulli are both reasons to visit the Valle d’Itria. Indeed, no trip to Puglia would be complete without visiting Polignano a Mare, eating seafood by the old port in Monopoli and exploring the trulli. But even with a dash of Lecce and shot of Otranto you would still be experiencing what most of Puglia’s visitors experience. And while the Valle d’Itria may draw the majority of Puglia’s visitors, it’s Salento that puts the “extra” into extraordinary.

"We are in Puglia. Again"

~ Riccardo Scamarcio