Polignano a Mare (38 km away)
Polignano a Mare is a municipality of the city of Bari. It is perched on top of limestone cliffs and is famous for the transparency of the sea that bathes it.
Originally, the city was a Greek citadel overlooking the Adriatic Sea, bordered by a cove or inlet called Cala Porto. The old town is therefore perched on a tuff cliff of 20 to 25 m, falling steeply to the sea. This cliff has many caves that were first shelters or reserves before being cellars for the inhabitants of the medieval town.
The coastline of Polignano a Mare is full of bathing places such as Cala Porto, Cala Paura, Porto Cavallo, Ponte dei Lapilli, San Giovanni etc. Most of them are coves or creeks. Under the cliffs of the old town, the beach of Cala Porto is a beach of small white pebbles.
For 5 consecutive years (from 2008 to 2012), Polignano a Mare has received the Blue Flag Medal of the Foundation for Environmental Education awarded to seaside resorts that meet the European quality criteria for bathing water, beach cleaning etc.
The city is also called perla dell'Adriatico ("pearl of the Adriatic") for its tourist appeal.
To see: the Great Gate (Porta Grande) or Old Gate (Vecchia Porta) (the only entrance to the
historic center until the 19th century), the Doge's Palace etc.