Polignano a Mare is а romantic remarkable place on the Adriatic coast in Southern Italy that is worth to visit. The town, I must admit, was not among our top priorities when we spent time in Puglia in May. We had put it in the “just in case we have time” list. Well, I’m glad we had enough time to go there and got a sense of its spirit. Now in retrospect, I think that we had underestimated the town, but it was so worth visiting it – because of the beautiful sea views, the small quaint beach and the curious historic center with white buildings.
When we were there, the weather was not warm and sunny, there were quite big clouds and a small storm, but we still liked the place.
Why is Polignano a Mare worth visiting
Polignano a Mare is an attractive small town in Puglia, Italy, which offers a fine combination of natural sea beauty and cultural heritage. With its dramatic cliffs, azure waters, rich historical heritage, and several panoramic (instagrammable) spots, this coastal town offers an amazing experience for travelers.
One of the most interesting places for me there was the so small, but attractive Monastic Blade Beach.
How to get to Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is located in southern Italy on the Adriatic coast, about 36 kilometers southeast of Bari. You can get to the town either by car or by train. It takes about 35 minutes by car to get between Bari and Polignano.
👉 Check out here great car rental deals on the Discovercars.com portal.
In addition, you can take a train to Polignano a Mare.
👉 Have a look for the train options here.
And, one more way I would propose – a full day guided tour from Bari to Polignano a Mare and Alberobello that includes the transfer to the both towns and guiding. See the full tour description and availability here.
Things to see in Polignano a Mare
One of the highlights of this enchanting town is its remarkable cliffs and caves, which have been shaped by centuries of wind and waves. The town is situated over several small peninsulas, each of which has a good panoramic place with beautiful views.
The historical center with beautiful old white buildings, narrow streets and an interesting slightly cramped cathedral is located in the central part of the town.
I describe below how we get to the top sites, so you can do it so.
We strolled through the small town, winding through the narrow streets and walking around the peninsulas.
Then we left the old part and headed down the main street.
We came across the small picturesque Monastic Blade Beach, which was visible from the main street.
Continuing along it, we stopped at another landmark – the monument of Domenico Modugno, an Italian singer, composer, actor and public figure, winner of 2 Grammy’s and winner of the 1958 Sanremo Festival.
Behind the monument we went onto a small rocky peninsula and saw some more beautiful sea views.
We went back and looked for a special cave restaurant – Grotta Palazzese, considered to be one of the most interesting restaurants in the world. After several attempts to see it at different places we found a beautiful view – from a terrace in the historical center. The famous restaurant was closed, but we were still pleased to find it.
The time went on and we were in a hurry. Yet, from time to time we stealthily looked back and sideways to remember well all those nice views. And indeed, when I now think of Polignano a Mare, the impressions are still in front of my eyes, so realistic.
I wish we had enough time to try out a boat cruise around the town, but anyway, next time!
Other interesting places nearby
You can combine the walk to Polignano a Mare with a visit to:
- Egnasia Archaeological Park: it is located 21 km southeast of Polignano a Mare; you can see there massive remains of a Roman ancient city;
- Dolmen di Montalbano – a very interesting and well exposed dolmen in the middle of a field, not far from the city of Ostuni, about 36 km southeast of Polignano a Mare;
- the city of Ostuni and its old part with whitewashed buildings, an old church at the top of a hill and great views of the sea, it is 46 kilometers southeast of Polignano a Mare.
Finally, a few words about the accommodation in Polignano a Mare. My impressions, without having stayed there, is that it is quite expensive place. Accommodation options in Bari, the center of the province, can be found on the map below. If you still want to spend the night in the town, check out here hotels in Polignano a Mare.
Booking.comIn conclusion, based on my personal impressions, I definitely think that Polignano a Mare is fully worth visiting.
