Has anyone been to Polignano, Italy? We have been to Italy several times and going again next summer. We will be 4 nights in Varenna, three nights in Monterosa and one week in Sorrento. My daughter really wants to visit Polignano. Is it worth the long ride over there?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I don't think anyone in the office has been there, but the online photos look good. Could you cut some time from Sorrento to also stop in Matera and Alberobello?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
Monterosa or Monterosso? Those are two different places.
Polignano is beautiful and has amazing beaches and cliffs. I bet your daughter wants to go to the Grotta Palazzese restaurant, a restaurant in a grotto on the sea, which is one of the most unique restaurants in the world.
However it's kind of out of the way for you. You are already crossing the entire length of the Italian boot. You can't make it over there on a day trip, it's far from where you go.You would need to rearrange your itinerary to make room for it. For example:
Varenna: 3 nights
Monterosso: 2 or 3 nights
Sorrento: 4 nights
Puglia (where Pomigliano is): 4 nights.
Posted by
62 posts
I flew into Bari in September and spent two nights in Polignano. Then we drove to Alberobello for a few hours and onto Matera where we stayed for two nights before driving to Ravello for several nights on the Amalfi coast (then headed down to Sicily). The driving distance was doable, without feeling like you were stuck in a car all day. Polignano is worth seeing.The sea at Polignano was beautiful. The old town is small but lovely.Two nights was sufficient. Matera is also definitely worth seeing. It is a special place. If you are considering the Grotta Palazesse restaurant, I found it to be very expensive with pretty unmemorable food and very uppity service but still worth going to for the absolutely gorgeous setting.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
Puglia is a very particular region and worth visiting. We stayed in Polignano al Mare a year ago for 2 nights of a 5 night Puglia trip. The food is amazing - and quite inexpensive - in Puglia. You can visit Castel del Monte, Alberobello, and many cute little Pugliese towns, nice beaches although they'll be busy in summer. Maybe give yourselves 3 nights in the area to make driving over worthwhile. It is an interesting contrast to Sorrento: less polished, more genuine. There will be a lot of Italian tourists in summer, and Brits. Few Americans as compared to the other places you are visiting.