HISTORY: Polignano a Mare was settled since Neolithic, a fact attested by the traces of human presence found in the area located southeast of Bari, dating back to that period. During Roman times, the village became an important stop along Via Traiana, the ancient road that connected Rome to Brindisi. Read More [...]
In the 6th century, Polignano became part of the Byzantine Empire, and then was conquered by the Normans, who ruled the area until 1194. In the following centuries, the village passed under the domination of the Angevins and, subsequently, under the Aragonese. Between the Angevins and Aragonese, for a period of about 20 years, Polignano was also ruled by Venice.
GEOGRAPHY: Today, Polignano a Mare is a town of about 20,000 inhabitants, part of the Metropolitan City of Bari and the Italian region of Apulia. Its territory is characterized by a high jagged coast with numerous bays and grottoes. Read More [...]
Polignano a Mare is located 9 kilometers nothwest of Monopoli, 34 kilometers southeast of Bari, 45 kilometers northwest of Ostuni, 68 kilometers north of Taranto, 70 kilometers northeast of Matera, 78 kilometers northwest of Brindisi, 114 kilometers northwest of Lecce, 295 kilometers east of Naples, 470 kilometers northeast of Reggio Calabria and about the same distance southeast of Rome.
TRANSPORT: The closest airport to Polignano a Mare is the Karol Wojtyła International Airport, located about 44 kilometers north, near Bari. From the airport, you can get to Polignano by train, in two steps. Read More [...]
First, from the airport to the Bari Centrale railway station, you can take one of the trains of the private company Ferrotramviaria. A trip takes about 16 minutes and the ticket costs 5€. Then, from the Bari Centrale railway station, you can take a train operated by Trenitalia to Polignano. The trip takes about 30 minutes and the ticket costs 2.70€.
LANDMARKS: The most important tourist attraction of Polignano a Mare and probably the most photographed spot on the Apulian coast is, without doubt, the small beach of Lama Monachile, enclosed between two rocky walls. A bridge with the same name, part of the ancient Via Traiana, is passing over the beach. Read More [...]
In Polignano, you can also take beautiful walks through the small historical center of the city. With its narrow streets and old buildings, restaurants and cafes, the old town is a beautiful maze in which you can lose yourself for a while.
