"Who goes to Polignano a Mare?" was a question we got from many of our friends. We do!
This stop on our itinerary was a restaurant destination - Grotta Palazzese - and we knew we did not want to stay in Bari. This apartment is located in the historical center of the town and the Grotta Palazzese was literally around the corner. The apartment was nicely appointed and located in a very charming, old stone building tucked into a little side street - steps away from Piazza San Benedetto. As travelers who appreciate history and architecture, we could not have found a more perfect place to spend a couple of nights. Around every corner is a postcard view.
There are cute cafés and bars within steps of the apartment that offer free wi-fi - Cafe la Cueva has the fastest wi-fi, wonderful service and terrific people watching. We also enjoyed a delightful lunch at SanBe where we also had the opportunity to visit with some of the locals. The beach is a short walk away and is very popular with the local residents. It can be quite crowded as it is a short beach located between two cliffs just outside the historic center. We also found a stylish bar just outside the old city wall where we could people watch whilst enjoying our Negroni and Aperol Spritz.
Besides our meal at Grotta Palazzese, the surprise highlight was the city-wide Festa di San Vito - patron saint of the town. The procession of the deity thru the town was something out of a book or a movie. Afterward, the main street was lit with bright, multi-colored decorations and vendors were lined along the street selling their wares and food items. A band played into the wee hours of the night in the festooned square as people of all ages enjoyed dancing to the music in the beautiful night air.
When it was time to retire to our bed, the party continued outside. One might make note to travel with some ear plugs as there is a popular bar just down the stairs from the apartment. The kids can be quite loud as they loiter in the doorways of the street.