Day in Polignano a Mare

I had always wanted to visit Polignano a Mare, and last August I had the chance to do just that. I had my flight back to Scotland from Bari, and I was staying overnight there, so I thought to wander around a little bit :). I took the train from Bari towards Lecce. It only takes 30 minutes to get to Polignano, and the return ticket costs between € 2,60 and 10,00 depending on the type of train you get on. The picture was taken on the way back of course :)

The train station is quite close to the old town which was the part that I wanted to visit the most. If you have a car there are different car parks close to the Old Town and it costs around € 1,50 per hour.

Polignano is built atop cliffs so there are lots of viewpoints from where you can admire the emerald waters down below. One that I recommend is Terrazza Santo Stefano. It gets quite busy so you will probably need to wait for your turn, but it is worth it.

As you walk around the Old Town start to pay attention to the various poetic words written in Italian on doors, stairs and walls.

This is probably the most famous beach in Polignano a Mare. Lots of locals come here for a swim and the view is very beautiful.

This bridge is one of the last remnants of the old Roman road, the Via Traiana.

If you have enough time you should join a boat tour to the sea caves that are at the bottom of Polignano a Mare’s cliffs. You can also enjoy a snack and a Prosecco on board while admiring these coastal formations. I personally, did not have the time to do it but there are a few companies that have great reviews: Blue Moon Escursioni, RentMe Escursioni and Chiara Escursioni for example.

Polignano a Mare is full of great restaurants but if you fancy something unique, you should try Grotta Palazzese, a luxurious restaurant/hotel located in a beautiful cave with stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. Of course, the meals here can be expensive and there is a dress code. I was alone and I did not have enough time or the right dress to eat here, but everyone talks highly about this place.

As I said, I was in a bit of a hurry, and I opted for something a little bit cheaper but definitely delicious. It was probably the highlight of my day in Polignano (lol). I ordered Puccia with Octopus, burrata and dry tomatoes, accompanied by a classic Italian Aperol Spritz. It was like being in heaven for a while :) The place is called Bonta’ Sotto L’Arco and it’s very close to the entrance to the Old Town.

I did not stay overnight, bur this place has got beautiful reviews and it’s right in the centre of the Old Town with views over Lama Monachile.