Above is a slideshow with a collection of images from our visit to the beautiful coastal town of Polignano A Mare, Italy.
When Carla and I travel, we like to stay in places that aren’t so well travelled – the lesser-known towns and cities, if you will. The places that are typically less discovered and less overly touristed. We find that we have more access to the authentic culture and people of a place when it is not constantly bombarded with tourism.
Don’t get me wrong, we love Paris, Barcelona, Rome, and Florence – they are magnificent. But the more we travel the richer our experience seems to be when we visit the lesser-known cities and towns. We find that they are a more complete representation of what life is like in the country or region we are visiting.
So, for this reason, we decided to spend a month in the less-travelled southern part of Italy, in the city of Lecce. There are many small villages that are easy day trips from Lecce (a beautiful town which I’ll be writing about in next week’s blog), and we’ve been feasting on this opportunity.
One of our favorite towns so far is Polignano A Mare, also known as “The Pearl of the Adriatic” . . . and with good reason! Perched on the edge of a high cliff rising from the Adriatic Sea, Polignano is in one of the more spectacular locations on the Adriatic. The rugged limestone cliffs shape a dynamic and gorgeous coastline and watching the crystal-clear waters breaking against the cliffs as they make their way to shore is mesmerizing.
But not to be outdone by the ocean and cliffs, the old town of Polignano A Mare is the very definition of charming. As you stroll through the town, you can easily find yourself lost in the narrow streets, with its shops and cafes, and sooner or later you will emerge at an overlook to the sea . . . it’s all part of the charm and beauty of this sweet town.
And the food is amazing. We had lunch in a restaurant by the sea with views of Polignao’s most famous beach – Lala Monachile. And no surprise. . . as we sat enjoying the view, we were treated to some of the best seafood we have ever eaten.
I realize that not everyone who reads this blog will make it to Polignano, but no worries . . . watching the video / slideshow will surely give you a very pleasant 3-minute visit to what is, so far, our favorite coastal town in Italy. Enjoy