Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare (Italian: [poliɲˈɲaːno a mˈmaːre]; Barese: Peghegnéne [pəɡəɲˈɲeːnə]) is a town and municipality (Italian: comune) in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. The local economy mostly depends on tourism, agriculture and fishing.

Polignano a Mare
Comune
Comune di Polignano a Mare
View of Polignano a Mare
Coat of arms
Location of Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare Location of Polignano a Mare in Italy Show map of Italy Polignano a Mare Polignano a Mare (Apulia) Show map of Apulia
Coordinates: 41°00′N 17°13′E
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Metropolitan city	Bari (BA)
Frazioni	Casello Cavuzzi, Chiesa Nuova, San Vito and a part of Triggianello
Government
• Mayor	Vito Carrieri
Area [1]
• Total	67 km2 (26 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Population  (1 January 2021)[2]
• Total	17,491
• Density	260/km2 (680/sq mi)
Demonym	Polignanesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	70044
Dialing code	080
Patron saint	St. Vitus
Saint day	June 15
Website	Official website

History

The area has been settled since prehistoric times, evidenced by archaeological excavations in the locality of Santa Barbara. It is believed to be the site of the ancient Greek city of Neapolis of Apulia. Nowadays, some historians suggest that this latter was one of the two colonies founded during the 4th century BC by Dionysius II of Syracuse; other sources, instead, claim Julius Caesar as the father of Polignano a Mare, which might have been a central hub along the well-known Via Traiana. Thanks to its strategic position on the Adriatic Sea, it soon became a trade centre, at least until the introduction of a Greek coin bearing the "NEAII" inscription.^[3]

The foreign dominations led the town to a greater development and recognition. The Byzantine Empire, in the 6th century, turned it into a municipal structure; subsequently, it was dominated by the Normans, who, during the 11th century made the local economy thrive by boosting the production of the olive oil.^[4] The fortification of the suburb, on the other hand, has plainly to be attributed to the Angioinians, who secured the protection of the land from potential threats including the Turkish army and the different kinds of epidemics.^[5]

Under the Aragonese crown, Polignano reached its peak in both economic and cultural terms; this meant business men and merchants coming from different parts of the world meeting there soon afterwards.^[6]

Landmarks

Lama Monachile

• Fondazione Museo "Pino Pascali"
• Palazzo dell'Orologio
• Abbey of San Vito Martire
• Church of Santa Maria Assunta
• The Grotta Palazzese Hotel
• Lama Monachile

Transport

Polignano a Mare is served by Polignano a Mare railway station. Polignano a Mare is served by the following nearby airports:

• Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport
• Brindisi Airport

Twin towns

• San Miniato, Italy
• Forio, Italy