POLIGNANO A MARE - TOP PLACES TO VISIT AND TRAVEL ACTIVITIES
Polignano a Mare is one of the most touristic locations in Puglia and also one of the most picturesque Italian towns on the Adriatic coast. I didn't have to take too many steps in this town because it captivated me from the moment I entered the historic center. I got lost in the narrow streets, admired the architecture, enjoyed the local ice cream and the sea views, and at the end of the day I admired the color of the sea from the beach.
If your plan is similar to mine, then you have come to the right blog. Whether you choose to spend a day, two, or more in Polignano, I am convinced that you will find the information in this article useful, so that you can outline the perfect plan for the most beautiful vacation. I have prepared for you a mini-travel guide, where I will tell you about places to visit and tourist activities, accommodation units, ways to get to Polignano, places to eat and much more. Let's start from the beginning:
HOW DO YOU GET TO POLIGNANO A MARE?
The nearest airport with direct flights from Romania is Bari, from where you have to travel approximately 34km. From there, the easiest and cheapest way to get to Polignano is by train. The ticket costs up to €4, can be bought from the machines and validated at the entrance to the platform. Another option for public transport, not as simple, is the bus, which leaves from the L.go Ciaia station.
If you plan to visit several places, you can consider renting a car. You can compare prices on sites like Skyscanner, Rentalcars, Booking, Kayak, or even the airline websites, which can have pretty good deals. In general, traffic is not chaotic, and parking is affordable. Look for free parking marked in white, or paid parking marked in blue.
Another option to get to Polignano a Mare is as part of an organized excursion. You can choose options that also include Alberobello in the itinerary, details here and here.
WHERE ARE YOU ACCOMMODATING IN POLIGNANO A MARE?
Among the options available on Booking, the ones that caught my attention are:
- ZI' MARI' - Via Roma - accommodation unit with double rooms, located 5 minutes walk from Monachile beach. The rooms are simply furnished and decorated. Internet is included in the booking price;
- La Casetta di Ninella - accommodation unit that can be rented entirely, type of holiday home, which can accommodate up to 4 people. It has a double bed and a sofa bed, and the kitchen is fully equipped. The house is simply furnished, and some walls feature traditional details and white stone;
- Villa Lara - accommodation unit with double or twin rooms. It is not very modernly furnished, but it has an outdoor pool, parking and internet included in the booking price. On request, airport transfer and buffet breakfast are provided;
- Poseidonia-Housea Travel - apartment-type accommodation unit, with a bed and a sofa bed. Can accommodate up to 3 people. Located on a pedestrian street, 4 minutes walk to Monachile beach. Has a kitchen and the internet is included in the booking price.
PLACES TO VISIT AND ACTIVITIES IN POLIGNANO A MARE
A walk through the historic center is the main activity that you can enjoy in Polignano. You can start exploring at the Porta Grande (Arco Marchesale), one of the old access roads to the historic area, and then get lost in the narrow streets. This area is crowded at any time of the year, but even so, it does not make it seem less impressive. Here you will find many shops with locally made items, souvenir shops, terraces, gelaterias and fast-food places selling ready-made seafood.
Among the most beautiful places in this area, I mention: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta, Palazzo dell'Orologio, Piazza San Benedetto.
The white stone buildings, with their superb architectural details, are mostly very well maintained, but there can be exceptions. The locals embellish the facades with all kinds of details and plants, and the relaxed atmosphere is evident, both in the daily life of the people and in the general appearance of the resort.
The viewpoints are certainly the “signature” of this small coastal town. The combination of turquoise water, the rocks ground by the waves and the architecture of the buildings built right on the edge, creates the perfect setting, which gathers dozens of tourists eager to take pictures in these areas. In Polignano there are several such small balconies. Although they are not difficult to find and you will only be able to see them by walking through the old center, I choose to leave a few names for you to add to Google Maps, so that you find them easily: Belvedere su Lama Monachile, Grotta dell’Arcivescovado and Punto Panoramico Largo Ardito, Belvedere Terrazza Santo Stefano and Lungomare Domenico Modugno.
Ponte Borbonico su Lama Monachile is a 5-arch bridge, built around the 1930s. It connects two parts of the city, crossing a dry valley, which also formed Lama Monachile beach. There is also a green area around the viaduct, and in the future a possible park, which was under construction during our visit.
And since we're talking about the beach, after admiring the view from Ponte Borbonico, we go down the stairs to the most famous and photographed beach in Puglia, Lama Monachile. It has a fairly narrow entrance to the sea, with large rocks and no sand. If you choose to sunbathe here, which I recommend, don't forget to bring your swimming shoes. Getting out of the water can be a bit problematic because of the rocks, and even more so if the wind is blowing and there are waves that pull you back into the sea. Also, there are no sun loungers or anything else arranged, so sitting on the beach is not the most comfortable.
Formed in the dried-up valley of a river, the beach has a fjord-like appearance, and the rocks surrounding it complement the landscape very well. Although it is a beach in the "middle" of the city, quite crowded, the water is very clean, crystal clear and has a gorgeous color.
A boat ride through the caves formed in the cliffs along the coast is one of the activities you shouldn't miss if you visit Polignano. Some caves are so long that they extend underground to the middle of the town, and in some of them, human remains and objects dating back to the Paleolithic era have been found. Many of these caves are not accessible, but those that are definitely worth exploring—whether by boat, paddleboard, or kayak.
Here are some options for such boat trips:
- speed boat ride, with appetizer included, details here;
- boat ride, with prosecco included, details here;
- catamaran tour, with appetizer and local food included, details here;
WHERE TO EAT IN POLIGNANO A MARE?
If a meal at “Grotta Palazzese”, one of the most iconic restaurants in Europe, is beyond your budget (as was our case), then you can consider:
Bella Mbriana - one of the most recommended places to eat in Polignano, which we chose and which we recommend further. The food was very good. There were 9 of us and we declared ourselves satisfied.
Antiche Mura - one of the restaurants with very good ratings both on Google (where it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5) and on Trip Advisor (where it has a rating of 4.5/5);
La Locanda Porta Picc - one of the locations known for seafood dishes.
Terrazze Monachile - it is a location that I recommend for the view. It is located near the viewpoint towards Monachile beach;
I would like to mention that the food in Puglia is a little different from the rest of Italy. In this area, neither pizza nor pasta is prepared according to classic recipes, so you will be safe if you choose to order fish or seafood. In fact, the region is known for its "orecchiette" pasta, which I personally did not enjoy. You can witness for free the production of orecchiette in the old center of Bari, where some ladies demonstrate in front of tourists.
If you want to have a special culinary experience, you can opt for a tour of the resort where you can taste street food and local wine, highly praised by Italians, details here.
CONCLUSION ABOUT POLIGNANO
Polignano is one of those places that is worth spending a day, or a few hours (at least 4-5 hours, if you don't have much time). It is a vibrant location and I am convinced that however you choose to spend your time here, it will be a pleasant experience. Also, don't miss a walk at dusk, when the atmosphere of the place is very romantic, and the town is decorated with all kinds of boho-style lights.
I was pleasantly surprised by this town, being my favorite among those visited during this mini-vacation. During our trip to Puglia, besides Polignano, we visited Alberobello, Monopoli and Bari. Because we had a fairly short time, we couldn't visit Matera, but we will definitely come back and then we won't miss it.
If you have travel recommendations regarding Polignano, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments.
Read also about other locations in Italy: Lake Como, Lake Garda, Verona, Amalfi Coast, or Capri Island.
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