The Adriatic comes thrashing into a canyon of high rock walls at Polignano a Mare.

What is so beautiful about it, so Italian, is how the little city has accommodated this natural glory with designs for lovers to enjoy it. Into the high cliffs on one side stand residences like a continuation of the rock face, and at their base, midway up, railings where couples look down on the crashing waves. 

At night, even in cold December, lights invite the adventurous down to the rocky beach. The waves seem violent, but crash to an abrupt stop, withdrawing with the clacking of smooth rocks like beads or the sound crabs make.

In the daylight, on the opposite cliff, is a piazza where we had a good lunch. The bronze sculpture watching us seem to invite a passion for giving oneself over to the blue sky and blue sea. In fact, it is the figure of Domenica Madugno, a singer from this very town who made famous his song “Volare,” which is about a dream of “blue painted blue.”

He throws his arm wide, as when he sang it. You may know the song.

Volare (To fly)

Oh, contare (to sing)

Nel blu dipinto di blu

Felice di stare lassù

(In the blue painted blue Happy to be up there)

Beautiful. But the wi-fi was out in our rock-tomb of an Airbnb. So we left early for Lecce. We’re here, happy to say farewell to 2025, and hopeful for good changes coming in 2026!

Buonanno, tutti!