Welcome to a new installment of articles on our blog dedicated to Polignano. If you haven’t already, we invite you to read our previous contributions by visiting our archive and to write to us with your thoughts 😉

In today’s article, we want to help you travelers who, amidst packing and planning, have not yet fully planned what to see in Polignano once you arrive in the city. If you are looking for useful tips on beaches, we recommend visiting our in-depth article about the best beaches in Polignano.

Let’s begin! What should you visit first?

Lama Monachile

Lama Monachile is the symbol beach of Polignano, the bay is located right in the center (2 minutes walk from B&B A Casa di Anna) and can be reached through two accesses located at the ends of the bridge of via Pompeo Sarnelli (a Bourbon bridge built about 200 years ago). In Roman times, Lama Monachile was used as a landing place for boats that made Polignano one of the most important commercial routes of the peninsula. The Roman influence can be seen in the “Ponte della Via Traiana” located right above Lama Monachile, parallel to the Bourbon bridge, which was intended to connect Rome to Brindisi. The lama is also the location of Red Bull Cliff Diving, the high diving competition organized every year by the energy drink company of the same name.

Statue of Domenico Modugno

Inaugurated on May 31, 2009, the Statue of Domenico Modugno is certainly one of the must-see stops in Polignano. Made by Argentine sculptor Hermann Mejer, the bronze statue, about 3 meters tall, faces the town center with the sea behind, almost as if to symbolize Mr. Volare’s embrace of the city where he was born.

Historic Center

The visit can only continue in the old town of Polignano. After crossing the bridge, you reach the Arco Marchesale, the symbolic entrance to the historic center and the last testimony of what was once the city walls that protected the small Pearl of the Adriatic. Once you pass the arch, the old town develops into a maze of narrow streets and alleys paved with stone, surrounded by stairs and balconies decorated with various floral patterns. However, the real attraction is represented by the “logge”: the sea views characterized by a breathtaking view. Continuing the walk, you reach Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, better known as Piazza dell’Orologio due to the Palazzo or Torre dell’Orologio located here. The square also houses the main church of Polignano: the Chiesa Matrice dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. After passing Piazza dell’Orologio, you reach Piazza San Benedetto, a rectangular square characterized by the presence of many small bars and restaurants, as well as one of the main locations of “Il Libro Possibile,” the literary festival that takes place annually in Polignano.

Waterfront

Recently renovated in 2017, the Polignano waterfront represents one of the most picturesque panoramic points offered by the Puglia town. With a route of about 1 km overlooking the sea that starts from the historic center, the waterfront is ideal for a relaxing walk made even more enjoyable by the presence of many small bars and restaurants where you can taste local specialties or simply quench your thirst with a refreshing drink. Always a place of great charm and interest, the waterfront has been the location of two important film productions: “The Girl with a Pistol” – 1968 and “Cado dalle nubi” – 2009.

Pino Pascali Museum

Continuing the walk along the waterfront, we arrive at the Pino Pascali Museum. Built inside the former municipal slaughterhouse, the museum is one of the major attractions offered by Polignano, as well as a cultural center of absolute importance for Puglia, being the only stable museum of Contemporary Art present within the region. For information on exhibitions and events, please visit the Fondazione Museo Pino Pascali | Polignano a Mare (BA) – ITALY – Website of the Pino Pascali Museum Foundation.

Hermit’s Rock

At the end of the walk on the waterfront, it is possible to admire the Hermit’s Rock, an islet located a few meters from the coast and another natural attraction offered by Polignano.

Marine Caves

Among the lesser-known but most suggestive natural beauties, the marine caves are certainly to be counted: in Polignano, there are about 70 of them! Most of these can be visited through special boat tours lasting about 2 hours (timings may vary depending on the selected packages). You can book your trip directly from our B&B and experience one of the most incredible experiences you can have in Polignano. Ask for the tour when booking or at check-in, and you won’t regret it.

San Vito

San Vito is a hamlet of Polignano, located about 3.5 km from the city center, and represents one of the major points of interest for tourists.

Here you can find the Benedictine Abbey of San Vito, a building nestled on the small port that hosts it and perched on the sea. The abbey was built around the 10th century and later became the residence of the friars belonging to the order of the Holy Apostles. At the end of the 18th century, it became property of the State and was then sold in 1866 to the Marquess La Greca family, the current owner.

The small beach is also surmounted by an ancient Saracen watchtower and is ideal for long and romantic walks while contemplating the sea.

Archaeological Site

To testify to the ancient origins of Polymnianum (whose translation means “built high”) or Neapolis, in the district of Santa Barbara, located about 3 km from the city center towards Monopoli, there is a Neolithic settlement of significant historical and cultural value dating back to between the 6th and 5th millennium BC.

We hope to have provided you with useful insights for your trip, and we thank you for reading. We look forward to having you soon as guests at B&B A Casa di Anna.