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It’s said that the drink was invented at local institution Mario Campanella Il Super Mago del Gelo More than 800 locals were slaughtered when the Ottomans invaded Otranto in 1480. Today, their skulls make for an unconventional welcome committee at the city’s Romanesque cathedral Yet what makes this hulking landmark unmissable is the action-packed mosaic floor – one of the largest and most intriguing ever executed in medieval Europe Since Otranto lies a mere 72km (45 miles) from the Balkan coast it’s not surprising that its history is riddled with occupations and liberations Sleuth around its compact old quarter to peel the past off in layers: Greek for Otranto’s beaches are among the most inviting of Puglia beaches Best for street food (and street-made food) Forget the North Pole – you’ll find the real St Nick in Bari. The city’s gigantic Basilica di San Nicola shelters the relics of this early Christian bishop whose fondness for secret gift giving inspired the white-bearded icon we all know and love In Bari Vecchia, the lovable, labyrinthine old town, you can visit the remarkable 12th-century Norman cathedral and the excellent archaeological museum Yet the undisputed stars of this quarter are the legendary pasta-making ladies of Arco Basso they set up their spianatoie (wooden boards) along the narrow backstreets rolling and expertly shaping Puglia’s signature orecchiette the city also whets the appetite with Italian cuisine like focaccia barese (Bari-style focaccia) sgagliozze (polenta fritters) and panzerotti (deep-fried calzone) – fortifying street snacks on any Bari bar crawl A chocolate box of photogenic paesi (towns) and arresting natural beauty, the Gargano Promontory is an all-in-one treat in Puglia’s northeast. Clifftop Vieste and Peschici make ideal bases their narrow streets scattered with fluttering laundry color-popping geraniums and seafood trattorie boat tours sail from their harbors to Gargano’s dazzling sea caves Both towns are also summer gateways to the nearby Tremiti Islands, where fragrant hikes, clear waters and a medieval abbey add up to an evocative offshore escape. Behind Vieste and Peschici, twisting backroads and hiking trails crisscross the rugged, mountainous expanse of the Parco Nazionale del Gargano home to ancient woodlands and brooding mountain villages The prettiest of the lot is Monte Sant’Angelo the Archangel Michael made several apparitions in the fifth century a “living” museum that gives visitors at taste of trullo life in the 19th century While several of Alberobello’s trulli offer accommodation, consider exploring the town as a day trip and basing yourself instead in one of the valley’s lesser-known jewel-box towns. Among them is chic, whitewashed Ostuni, rustic Cisternino and baroque Martina Franca a delicately sweet cured meat regarded as the king of Puglia’s salami Planning tip: From mid-July to early August, Martina Franca hosts the Festa della Valle d’Itria a renowned music festival focused on opera Planning tip: Several of Martano’s beautiful private courtyards are open to the public during Cortili Aperti (Open Courtyards) Grecìa Salentina celebrates its soulful pizzica folk dance with the Notte della Taranta festival Gallipoli is the epitome of southern Italian seduction: azure seas laid-back locals and a picture-perfect Old Town heady permeated by the scent of freshly fried seafood A dense warren of intimate squares and bar-studded alleyways the Old Town occupies a tiny island connected to the mainland by a causeway the hip and the beautiful descend en masse to soak in sun at Gallipoli’s superlative beaches – as well as the town’s chic vibe and hedonistic nightlife Not that it’s all beach clubs and bronzed pinups. Gallipoli harbors the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, a shining example of barocco leccese architecture, and the extraordinary Frantoio Ipogeo It’s also home to the mysterious Fontana Greca (Greek Fountain) an intricately carved monument whose exact origins are still up for debate Planning tip: Consider visiting Gallipoli in June or September to enjoy the beaches clubs and warmth without the peak-season masses Santa Croce’s intricately carved facade is one of Italy’s architectural masterpieces Of course, Lecce’s backstory is much older than its 400-year-old showstoppers. On Piazzetta Castromediano Sigismondo, glass floor panels reveal a glimpse of a Renaissance oil store. At nearby Museo Faggiano, a mundane search for a sewage pipe led to the discovery of millennia-old subterranean relics, among them a pre-Christian Messapian tomb and a Roman granary. Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Valerie Fortney-Schneider returned to her roots in the southern Italy region of Basilicata Italy’s sexy stiletto heel is a peninsula skirted by the Adriatic and Ionian seas—500 miles of coastline, with a wealth of intriguing and exotic towns. There are two airports serving European gateways: Bari and Brindisi as it’s challenging to get around without one All the major companies are found at both airports Puglia presents a wealth of contrast Sapphire waters offset intensely white towns; miles of olive trees cover the horizon sprinkled with compacted little towns; peasant art is contained within grandiose architectural jewels while breathtaking masterpieces are held within spare facades Many contend that it’s the Italian region with the friendliest people Learn more about Italy and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE report – Italy: Europe’s Most Seductive Country The sun ripens the region’s fruits and vegetables Vegetable-based dishes play a predominant role in Puglia’s culinary repertoire The sea gives it a long-standing fishing tradition and the seafood specialties are phenomenal Excellent wines are produced from heritage grapes some of them brought here millennia ago by the Greeks Try Negroamaro or Primitivo for a robust taste of the Puglian sun The sun and the sea seem to infuse the towns with an energy that is radiated by the vivacity of the people; they are happy and proud Polignano a Mare is called the Pearl of the Adriatic The whitewashed buildings look like stacked-up sugar cubes This is where Domenico Modugno wrote the song Volare whose arms are outstretched toward the town and see how he may have been inspired by the blue sea and sky (“nel blu dipinto di blu”) with gleaming smooth limestone streets wending among whitewashed buildings and opening onto unexpected to sea views Artisan shops and cafés are scattered among the lanes so stop and refuel with a beverage and snack A handy spot is Millennium Café at Piazza Giuseppe Verdi Especially satisfying are the crunchy almond cups filled with creamy gelato Stand on the bridge that hangs over the cove to get the best view of the town and sometimes unplanned practice sessions that may give you an unexpected show there’s a trattoria inside the walls of the centro storico Now it’s time to head into the low hills of the Valle d’Itria an inland swath about 45 minutes from Polignano with intriguing towns that have attracted a good number of expats This is a tranquil realm of gnarled olive trees and vineyards of little gardens that produce green-leaf crops even in the deepest winter where towns glow in shades of rich earth colors shimmering on low hills under a deep blue sky peculiar homes with conical roofs unique to this area Ostuni is a great home base but Locorotondo is another good spot to stay you may want to park here for several days to scout out all the towns in this section; each has its charms Ostuni is called the White City for obvious reasons with delightful cafés and restaurants squeezed in among the lanes Some bars have pillows tossed on the steps of the “streets” and tables in any outdoor space wide enough with a more level district and the periphery of newer development Grab one of the adorable Ape (pronounced “AH-pay”) guides for a spin around town—these are tuk-tuk-like vehicles; the drivers give informative tours Sit at one of the cafés that rim the Piazza della Libertà for an aperitivo or cappuccino, and you’re bound to hear English speakers around you. It’s an easy way to connect with other expats here. Osteria Monacelle is easy to find and gives a good sampling of Puglia’s fare—hand-formed pasta with various vegetable sauces Look for the cute wine truck that proffers local vintages from its tricked-out Ape-mobile Spend some time getting a feel for the towns of the Valle d’Itria Its buildings are adorned with baroque flourishes and stately wrought iron balconies Its graceful curving piazza is one of the prettiest in Puglia and the regal Ducal Palace houses the town hall where frescoed salons host cultural events throughout the year which awards the designation based on certain criteria.) Cisternino also possesses a coveted Orange Flag Here you’ll find another circular white-washed town with a tidy center and affordable homes both in town and in the surrounding countryside One thing you must do in Cisternino or Martina Franca is sink your teeth into the grilled meats at a butcher shop-grill Called bracerie (or fornelli in Cisternino) these are regular butcher shops that also grill the meats you select on the spot A specialty here is a skewer of bite-sized stuffed meat nuggets These shop-grills are usually open in the evening time You can’t leave the Valle d’Itria without stopping in Alberobello It is the epicenter of those gnome-like homes called trulli—the entire town is constructed of them and it’s quite a sight to see There are loads of B&Bs and hotels that let you spend a night or more under those pointy roofs Now you’re going to go deeper south, into the area of Puglia known as the Salento the people here love their festivals and go over the top in celebrating every holiday Breathtaking art is hidden in even the smallest of towns and the beaches are some of the best in Puglia (and celebrated among the best in Italy) Your destination is Lecce The buildings of the city are built in local limestone lathered with joyous ornate carvings and adornments done with such exuberance that it gives the city a sense of gaiety and museums that it has been given the nickname Do some shopping on Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Palmieri and the medieval castle are just a few of the things to see here +39 083-209-0219) are good choices to start with Continue to enjoy Lecce and get a feel for the city a delightful seaside town just 40 minutes to the south Otranto is a sunny spot and has some great beaches right in town newer town surrounding the old town settlement a captivating “mini-Lecce” for those seeking a smaller city without sacrificing style Be sure to go inside the church of Santa Caterina for a big surprise—every surface is frescoed It will be hard to part with Puglia; the place seems to put everyone under its spell If you have enough time to spend your last day exploring it’s fun to drive to the very tip of the peninsula you’re closer to Greece and Albania than you are to Ostuni where you’ll cross a bridge to reach the “island” old town Head back to the airport in Bari or Brindisi for your flight This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page ShareSaveCommentLifestyleDiningPolignano A Mare Is A Small Gem Of A Seaside Town In Puglia With Great SeafoodByJohn Mariani Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 09:37am ESTShareSaveCommentThis article is more than 2 years old.Polignano a Mare lies on the rocky coast of the Adriatic Sea The Italian peninsula is neither very long (736 miles) nor very wide (150 miles) so that the distance from one town to another may be less than five miles which differ radically from the foggy north to the sun-kissed south Puglia has the Adriatic on one side and the Tyrrhenian on the other Forty minutes south of the large city of Bari is the small city of Polignano a Mare and fifteen minutes away is Monopoli From there other days can be languidly spent visiting Ostuni The old town of Polignano a Mare has winding arrow streets that open onto to surprising small .. with some scholars claiming the Greeks settled it as Neapolis while others say Julius Caesar founded it as a hub along the Via Traiana Its situation on the Adriatic was a double-edged sword on the one hand making it readily accessible for trade its occupiers have included the Byzantine Empire The Museum of Contemporary Art Pino Pascali pays homage to Polgnano's favorite son stop to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Pino Pascali on the Parco du Santo Stefano a squat building with a Roman archway housing a remarkable array of the native artist’s work (along with a few others’) in every type of medium from painting to sculpture to fabric to video it pays homage to an artist who died in Rome at 33 yet who achieved international renown within the avant-garde community Polignano is such a pleasure to stroll through for there really isn’t a lot of area to cover especially for the “Red Bull Cliff Diving Polignano” event that draws 50,000 people annually to watch professional divers plunge 65 feet into clear blue waters edged with rocky cliffs The seashore is also pockmarked with grottoes in which the sea ebbs and flows The seaside walk along the cliffs of Polignano a Mare shows the grottoes down below If you stroll along the Lungomare (waterfront) with its narrow streets weaving in and out of the Old Town where people live in perched apartments and new boutiques and trattorias have popped up you will eventually come to the statue of local boy Domenico Modugno who became an international star with his song “Volare.” The beaches are secluded in Polignano a Mare The beaches below may be rocky or white sand the finest of which is devoted to Santa Maria Assunta in Piazza Dell’Orologio consecrated in 1295 with a simple bell tower and housing Stefano da Putignano’s beloved Nativity sculpture (1530) Polignano’s architectural diversity can be seen in the palazzos on the expansive Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II By all means you must have a cup of Polignano’s caffe speziale made with espresso laced with amaretto liqueur A good spot to try it is the oddly named FCAZZ Birra with outdoor tables set under white umbrellas Dining al fresco at Casa Mia gives full view of the main street in town Just across the street is one of the region’s finest seafood restaurants it has a fine wine list and ebullient owners in Vito and Michele Dragone There you might want to start off with a puffy-crusted pizza Mackerel his one of the forms of crude served at Mia Casa and whatever comes in fresh that morning will be on it: red shrimp with fried artichokes; tuna with pesto; spaghetti with seppie and a puree of yellow squash; tortelletti with scampi and basil The fritto misto of seafood is impeccably cooked The best way to appreciate Casa Mia is with a tasting of either three or six dishes IN Monopoli a church is devoted to the Virgin Mary who by legend came to the town on a raft a town blessed in legend by the visitation of the Madonna in 1117 as commemorated at the Cathedral di Maria Santissima della Madia settled in the sixth century (although it is said pirates built a small church there in 313 in thanks for surviving a shipwreck) the Spanish king who kept the peace that led to Monopoli’s being free of further invasion Sunsets over the Adriatic offer dramatic vistas that indicate just how close the town is to the Near East Then it’s time to walk through the small streets all well-lighted to show off the whitewashed cleanliness of the city’s homes as the people of Monopoli close their shutters and light their lamps Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels that look like garden sheds for garden gnomes Perhaps it was the lazy ‘New Tuscany’ tag that used to be bandied about Or perhaps it was just me. I was dazzled by Lecce when I first visited 25 years ago. The city is the star turn not only of Puglia but of all southern Italy and I may not have given the rest of the region its due where the landscapes were armoured with rock and the olive trees were as ornate as cathedrals and a single lighthouse – the Punta Palascìa – gazed out to sea Sunbathing at Cala dell’Acquaviva, DisoLavinia CernauThe heel of the Italian boot, caught between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas, the region feels like an island, peripheral, a place apart, only tenuously European. Puglia is the end of something, and the beginning of something else. Down here on the edge of Europe The white cubist houses could be North Africa and the labyrinthine towns their lanes a bewildering maze of privacies Celebrities may have discovered its retro charms; Helen Mirren Meryl Streep and Gérard Depardieu are among those who have purchased houses here But the real connoisseurs – ordinary Italians – know and love Puglia for its food Nonna on her balcony in MonopoliLavinia CernauAnd in Puglia, summer seems to go on forever, almost lingering into November perhaps more imagined than real – that sense of freedom among sand and  rock the paths threading through dunes to  the sea Puglia is the resin-y scent of pine and roadsides thick with oleander shedding spent pink blossoms and the high-pitched drone of cicadas It is calamari and ice-cold beer and the glow of sun on your skin at day’s end It is beach umbrellas ruffled by the sirocco and bronzed limbs unfolding in hammocks dishevelled lunches and jugs of rosé wine in the shade of porticoes where you find yourself suddenly confessing things you thought you would never say Puglia is those inappropriate summer love affairs that last a week and that you remember a lifetime Puglia is where Italians go to escape real life The transformation of the old masserie into luxury properties – literally blown open by contemporary designers – is a cultural as well as architectural project In the towns, it is palaces that evoke the old anxieties. They too are often turned in on themselves, a labyrinth of passageways and quirky rooms. There is always the sense, or the hope, that you will stumble upon something you were not meant to see. In the town of Ostuni, where there are some of the finest sea views in Italy, the Palazzo Rosso – now Paragon 700 – is a place of secrets and conspiracies Peepholes indicate that it was once a convent while in the 19th century its rooms were the rendezvous for secret plots in support of Garibaldi and Italian unification In the walled garden behind high stone walls is a secret orange grove like hidden treasure Early morning in OstuniLavinia CernauThe southernmost stretch of Puglia is Salento bony place where wild figs grow in profusion groves of contorted olive trees retreat into green shadow and pomegranates ornamented with fruit peep over dry-stone walls keeping watch for Turks who gave up invading in 1571 gaze across a sea towards the mountains of Albania as if Europe’s extremities shared a bleak windswept ancestry Moored on Salento’s west coast is the city of Gallipoli Lanes twist between old palaces like gangways before rounding a last corner and emerging on the wide decks of the seafront the old churches seem to lean forward like elaborate figureheads their façades scoured and bleached by salt winds the best of Salento is the string of towns and bays along its east coast who was said to have landed here on his way from Palestine to Rome was so impressed he insisted it become a mandatory stop on the way to Paradise smart Italians take one of the white houses overlooking a cute harbour where sunbathers stretch out on the quays while boys somersault into the water splendid Moorish palaces promise cures for bronchitis arthritis and that most terminal of illnesses – ageing a colossal castle blocks the sun in the middle of the town Horace Walpole set his famous Gothic novel The Castle of Otranto here filling it with chivalrous knights and despairing princesses Lunch spot at Aquamarea in Polignano a MareLavinia CernauIt is the limestone of Salento Experts speak of its variations with the kind of passion sommeliers reserve for grape varietals – carparo each offering the sculptor different possibilities In the city of Lecce, Salento’s focal point, the possibilities of the local limestone come into their own. Guides call Lecce ‘the Florence of the South’. Puglians shrug and say, ‘Who needs Florence when we have Lecce?’ Nine colossal churches of the most extraordinarily delicate ornamentation all the result of the ‘tender’ malleable properties of the local stone Trailing in their wakes are countless ornate palaces Swimmers in Polignano a MareLavinia CernauSouth of Otranto, I followed a rocky path down to the Punta Palascìa lighthouse, Italy’s easternmost point. Whitecaps rode the sea. A sailing yacht was leaning into the Grecale, a north-easterly wind which is delightful when it blows in the summer months. Puglians are connoisseurs of winds, and attribute characteristics to each. The north winds of summer, they are fond of saying, heal the heart. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Wanted in RomeMagazine Police in Italy are seeking to catch up with a tourist who made a 32-metre jump off a cliff into the sea in Polignano a Mare, a popular seaside resort in the southern Puglia region after the man climbed onto the roof of a private residence before making the hazardous plunge into the water 32 metres below Footage of the jump by the man went viral on social media The man's identity remains unknown however he is being referred to as a tourist by Italian media which was reported to police by the owner of the property occurred a couple of weeks after professional divers took part in the Red Bull Cliff Diving tournament in the same place Earlier this year the mayor of Venice said that a tourist who jumped into a canal off the roof of a three-story building should be given a “certificate of stupidity” Wanted in Rome ™ is member of the Wanted World Wide Ltd network.Click here to find out more about our Network or Follow us on social networks © 2025 / 2026 Wanted World Wide LTD Network Romania’s Constantin Popovici scored a remarkable comeback victory atthe third stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano aMare while Rhiannan Iffl and of Australia also made it a return towinning ways in the women’s competition who suff ered a serious-looking knee injury at the previous stop inBoston just three weeks ago displayed almost mystical powers of recoveryto fend off the strong challenge of this year’s surprise World Series leader,American James Lichtenstein with just 0.25 points ultimately separatingthe two rivals in a thrilling conclusion The men’s podium was completed byMexico’s Jonathan Paredes who fi nished in the top three for the fi rst time infi ve years it was seven-time champion Iffl and whomaintained her invincible record at the home of European cliff diving; theAustralian returning to the top of the podium once again following her fi rst-place fi nish in Boston proved that apodium on her recent debut was no fl uke as she took the runner-up spot forthe second stop in a row Canada’s Molly Carlson fi nished third to keep thepressure on Iffl and in the overall standings 1- Rhiannan Iffl and AUS – 367.20pts.2- Kaylea Arnett (W) USA – 332.553- Molly Carlson CAN – 327.104- Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 291.255- Ginni Van Katwijk (W) NED – 290.306- Simone Leathead CAN – 279.907- Elisa Cosetti (W) ITA – 276.608- Maria Paula Quintero COL – 270.609- Meili Carpenter USA – 256.2010- Eleanor Smart USA – 211.7011- Madeleine Bayon (W) FRA – 205.3512- Yana Nestsiarava (W) IAT – 41.60 1- Rhiannan Iffl and AUS – 57pts.2- Molly Carlson CAN – 463- Kaylea Arnett (W) USA – 334- Simone Leathead CAN – 295- Meili Carpenter USA – 206- Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 197- Maria Paula Quintero COL – 188- Elisa Cosetti (W) ITA – 169- Ginni Van Katwijk (W) NED – 1510- Eleanor Smart USA – 911- Aimee Harrison (W) CAN – 612- Anna Bader (W) GER – 512- Madeleine Bayon (W) FRA – 514- Yana Nestsiarava (W) ITA – 414- Paty Valente (W) BRA – 416- Morgane Herculano (W) SUI – 2 MEN – Results & StandingsRed Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2024 1- Constantin Popovici ROU – 418.65pts.2- James Lichtenstein USA – 418.403- Jonathan Paredes MEX – 387.854- Aidan Heslop GBR – 385.155- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 378.306- Andrea Barnaba (W) ITA – 364.807- Yolotl Marinez (W) MEX – 354.908- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 352.809- Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 352.5010- Miguel Garcia (W) COL – 322.5011- Nikita Fedotov IAT – 198.0012- Davide Baraldi (W) ITA – 65.70 1- James Lichtenstein USA – 46pts.2- Constantin Popovici ROU – 423- Aidan Heslop GBR – 374- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 285- Jonathan Paredes MEX – 226- Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 166- Yolotl Marinez (W) MEX – 168- Miguel Garcia (W) COL – 158- Nikita Fedotov IAT – 1510- Catalin Preda ROU – 1411- David Colturi (W) USA – 1112- Andrea Barnaba (W) ITA – 813- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 714- Braden Rumpit (W) NZL – 615- Matt Cooper (W) USA – 416- Davide Baraldi (W) ITA – 1 (L-R) Kaylea Arnett of the USA celebrates with Rhiannan Iffland of Australia and Molly Carlson of Canada during the final competition day of the third stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare (L-R) James Lichtenstein of the USA celebrates with Constantin Popovici of Romania and Jonathan Paredes of Mexico during the final competition day of the third stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare direttore@ilnautilus.it and the hospitality of its inhabitants have earned Polignano a Mare the title of "the most welcoming city in the world" at the Booking Traveller Review Awards this year the owner of the iconic Grotta Palazzese restaurant which Scagliusi had already enhanced in 2019 with 18 breathtaking suites will now complete its hospitality offering with "Suono del mare," a large reception hall adjacent to the restaurant between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 But let's take a step back: this aspect deserves a separate investigation solely due to its positioning on a spacious terrace carved into the rock of the ancient marine cave It's remarkable to think that since the 1700s extravagant banquets have been hosted at the location by the feudal family of Polignano just like the one depicted in Jean Louis Desprez's 1783 watercolor and an area featuring more secluded panoramic tables guests dine while enjoying a unique landscape within the sheltered environment of the cave which extends about eighty meters inside the cliff The menu offers five different courses ranging from seafood dishes (featuring sea bass and caviar) to land-based first courses such as Ravioli cacio e pepe or Fava beans and chicory with tofu and caramelized onions Lamb and beef fillet are also available for meat lovers Prices range from 195 to 350 euros per individual menu and guests can choose a smaller number of dishes if desired Grotta Palazzese has always been loved and regularly attended by celebrities and food enthusiasts from around the world It is also regarded as one of the most exclusive outdoor restaurants globally it will be able to host large-scale events in its exclusive location Scagliusi had mentioned the plans to create a reception area within 18 months; although the project took longer than expected "Suono del Mare" will span 5,000 square meters across two levels with a "One Thousand and One Nights" suite planned on the roof will be a treasure trove of elegance and technology and reception hall is estimated to be around 10 million euros a renowned food and wine critic from across the ocean described Polignano a Mare as a "A hidden coastal gem in Puglia cherished for its superb seafood offerings" the "Suono del mare" will be the pearl in the oyster Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world La nostra società utilizza inoltre cookie funzionali per registrare informazioni sulle scelte dell’utente e per consentire una personalizzazione del Sito; ad esempio Questi cookie possono essere installati dalla nostra società o da Terze parti In caso di disabilitazione di questi cookie la qualità e l’esperienza di navigazione potrebbe non essere soddisfacente Questi cookie sono installati da social media per consentire la condivisione dei contenuti del presente Sito Essi sono in grado di monitorare la navigazione compiuta anche in altri siti e creano un profilo dell’utente sulla base dei suoi interessi Ciò potrebbe avere un impatto sul contenuto e messaggi visualizzati sugli altri siti visitati non sarà possibile utilizzare o visualizzare questi strumenti di condivisione per l’installazione e l’uso di tali cookie occorre il consenso dell’utente Per maggiori informazioni consulta la pagna cookies policy Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Time Out straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Worldwide these destinations have been named the world’s most welcoming There are few things quite as comforting as travelling somewhere really Especially if you’re travelling on yer own all that stuff makes everything that bit nicer But which destinations are the friendliest Booking.com has dived into over 240 million reviews by users to reveal the ‘most welcoming places on Earth for 2023’ The site then put together a ranking of destinations where you’re most likely to receive the best hospitality And top of Booking.com’s list was... Polignano a Mare! A town on Italy’s Adriatic coast known for its spectacular clifftop location and white pebble beaches Polignano a Mare also happens to be home to a bunch of supremely welcoming restaurants Next up in the ranking was Hualien City in Taiwan, known for its night markets and areas of natural beauty, and San Sebastián in northern Spain a globally-revered hub of Michelin-starred restaurants Here are the top ten most welcoming destinations in the world The site also named the most welcoming regions in the world If you’d like to find out more about the study, you can see more details here. And Booking.com isn’t the only place to have ranked welcoming tourist destinations. Can you guess which country was named the friendliest in Europe Did you see that this UK city has been named one of the world’s friendliest destinations Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening across the world.   Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" There’s something about being in Italy's Puglia (or Apulia) region that makes you feel like you've reached one of the more distant corners of the earth largely flat territory occupies the heel of the boot an area you're not likely to stumble upon unintentionally as you tour the country's population centers Although it’s known to swarm with tourists during the high season a visit to the region on the cusp of November was that perfect state between bustling and deserted shops and restaurants warm and sunny days and a broad choice of accommodation at low season prices self-guided tour of Apulia treated me to stunning sights of natural and man-made beauty and the presence of the crystalline waters of the Adriatic Sea made it all the better In tune with the suspicion I wouldn’t pass this way again anytime soon I aimed to take in as many cities as reasonably possible I would rank them as follows: Brindisi's slightly dilapidated state was countered by a wide and handsome waterfront Otranto charmed with the turquoise waters of its beach in the heart of the city imposing fortress and houses tumbling down the side of a hill tree-lined boulevard and monumental architecture earned it a thumbs-up an overwhelming Baroque fantasy of churches statues and altars made me think of the frosting on a wedding cake a working-class city with a hidden old town with its cliff-top houses overlooking the deep cleft of a beach with its old town on an island separated by a causeway and miles of sandy beaches struck me as an authentic place populated by kind and considerate people and somewhere I could be happy to live The train from Lecce to Otranto | Photo by Karen Bradbury Although a rental car would have broadened my horizons public transportation generally got me to where I wanted to go The journey from Lecce to Otranto involved two connections at far-flung stations it consisted of just a single carriage with me the sole passenger train conductors invariably saw to it I disembarked and boarded the train I needed to continue my journey The one place I wanted to go but couldn’t reach was the boot-heel’s southernmost town No bus or road that looked safe enough to walk along seemed to connect it with the train’s last stop in Gagliano del Capo A walk along the coast just north of Otranto took me along a pretty but treacherous and entirely deserted path And a walk past San Vito’s monastery south of Polignano was stymied by a busy motorway The beauty of the water in Puglia lies within the bright blue boats Puglia’s best moments came spontaneously— a long stretch of sandy beach I had all to myself for an afternoon dip Sampling the type of ice cream known as spumone a far cry from the Americanized version of my childhood I had time for quiet contemplation of the sumptuous Baroque church atmosphere Stumbling upon rousing live music and dancing crowds within the walls of an ancient fortress This four-day route hits all the highlights Travel + Leisure Senior Editorial Director Nina Ruggiero oversees T+L's award-winning travel content across digital platforms. She is also the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer an online course for aspiring travel journalists When she's not traveling between her current home in Los Angeles and T+L HQ in New York City Nina can often be found in Italy or the UK and has traveled extensively through Europe Travel + Leisure Senior Editorial Director Nina Ruggiero oversees T+L's award-winning travel content across digital platforms. She is also the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer But let's find out what Polignano a Mare offers us between visiting places and activities to do in the surrounding area and how much it can be considered a camper friendly village In the charming center of Polignano a Mare you will find a variety of shops restaurants and welcoming cafes where you can taste the local cuisine although what makes the atmosphere unique are the cobbled streets All you need to do is look out from the balconies that allow you to glimpse the blue sea from the narrow alleys to realize how generous nature has been with this strip of Puglia Among the places not to be missed in the center are the Pino Pascali Museum of Contemporary Art Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo of the fourteenth century which stands on the same area occupied in the past by a pagan temple has a 23 meter bell tower and a beautiful façade that combines Gothic with Baroque with an interior richly decorated with XNUMXth and XNUMXth century frescoes the suggestion is to cross the Bourbon bridge to enjoy a panoramic view of the beach and the surrounding sea It is the ideal place to take spectacular photos and admire the natural beauty of Polignano Another symbolic place is the Seafront in Domenico Modugno dedicated to the illustrious fellow citizen to whom homage was paid with a monument depicting him with open arms perhaps intent on singing the famous song Volare Among the activities there is a boat excursion which allows you to visit numerous coves and caves that dot the seafront The best known is the “Grotta delle Rondinelle” characterized by a large opening on the cliff which offers a panoramic view of the sea The best known beach is instead Monachile blade or Cala Porto: nestled between imposing cliffs it is one of the most beautiful and photographed in the region Among the delicious local cuisine rich in orecchiette you absolutely cannot miss tasting Mario Campanella's special coffee the central ice cream shop a stone's throw from the Bourbon Bridge is coffee with cream and lemon zest with the addition of amaretto obtained from chopped sweet almonds   PleinAir news and the other camper friendly locations such as Polignano a Mare, you can read them in the digital magazine on your PC, tablet or smartphone. With a year of subscription to PLEINAIR (11 paper issues) you have the special inserts the digital magazine and thedigital archive since 2015 (with attachments) you receive the next issues comfortably at home and save Search More results... June seven years ago saw the inauguration of the current home of the most active and lively center for stable contemporary art in Apulia: the one named since 1998 after Pino Pascali (Bari the city of origin of the artist’s family already known for its generous scenic beauty and for being the birthplace of Domenico Modugno.Founded twenty-one years ago the municipal museum since 2010 has become a Foundation and since 2012 it takes its place in a restored and beautifully optimized former slaughterhouse the Apulian coast of the province of Bari overlooking the Adriatic Sea that addresses the international horizon of the art system an institutional reference for the knowledge memory and promotion of Pascali’s artistic figure and a caretaker container of works by contemporary artists whose works can be in dialogue with those of the protagonist It must be said that among the first initiatives in his memory was already the establishment in the city of a civic gallery in his name and that from the following year a ’Pino Pascali’ Prize for contemporary art assigned to relevant figures in the artistic-critical field was established So that the valorization of Pascali’s corpus goes on in Polignano in parallel with the preservation that the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome up to the Mumok in Vienna or the Museum of Modern Art in Osaka The substantial collection-archive permanently at the museum since 1998 has consisted primarily of the “unwitting” legacy left by the artist obtained over time in co-partnership with the region and the municipality These are works that testify to the eclecticism of the graphic designer Pascali have a straightforward “Mediterranean matrix,” later declined by the international artistic influences he had the opportunity to absorb in Rome in the 1950s and the brilliant 1960s From his advertising and television experiences representative of the period in association with Lodolo Film and working for Rai to his later sculptural and installation experiments spaces and important appointments of the official art system that was consecrating him before that fateful 1968 visual notes and personal objects that reconstruct the history and vitality of the Pascali man and through which one can trace the thematic nodes of his flourishing continues to attract donations and new acquisitions prepared by the Fondazione Museo Pino Pascali (awarded in 2013 as Italy’s Best Contemporary Art Foundation) It is just last year in fact the introduction of a collection of unpublished photographs and recently restored original advertising videos the introduction of the iconic Five Bristle Worms and a Cocoon (1968) into the collection as well And this passage introduces the link with the man who was its “owner,” Fabio Sargentini (Rome 1939) of Rome’s L’Attico Gallery a leading international personality at the center of an ongoing tribute exhibition at the museum with other public and private institutions (such as the Pinacoteca della Città Metropolitana di Bari) as well as collectors ensure that his production is known or in some cases rediscovered Fundamental to the conservation and commemorative process are contributions to the restoration of some works or the reconstruction of others based on historic original drawings it is possible to visit the exhibition My Way - Installation with Figures which leads back to that decisive tranche de vie that saw together in the stable of L’Attico here symbolically reunited in an evocative life-size photographic installation around the “master of the house,” which is placed at the center of a series of images of their most significant actions of the years 1968-1970 The exhibition came about because Sargentini was awarded the Pino Pascali XXI Prize and statutorily the annual winner of the prize is dedicated a solo exhibition in the heart of the museum Since the official opening of the Pino Pascali with the artistic direction of Rosalba Branà this award has once again become an interesting occasion for authors and the public A jury elected from edition to edition recognizes value to excellent actors of the scene awarding one of their works and acquiring it in the permanent then exhibited in the basement of the building It is therefore an “observatory” on the currents of theory and practice of visual and performing arts The precious “catalog” of the entire heritage can be said to be open also because the absorption is in progress Of these days the announcement concerning the granting on loan for use by the artist and collector Lino Sivilli (Bitetto 1942) of the original drawing Progetto per Balena (1966) the building’s Project Room is a space from time to time devoted to special activities and focuses on new artists involved in Pascali’s house 1971) who has been working with performance video art and interactive and participatory projects since 1992 invited to present in this context the solo exhibition You’re Welcome curated by Giusy Petruzzelli it will be possible to see brought together her entire body of work related to the theme of welcome videos and documents from some of his performances from the series With no time (2015) and You’re Out the latter re-purposed site-specific in Polignano for the occasion of the June 7 opening It is a remarkable reflection on one of the central nodes of “Mediterranean-ness,” the refugee crisis and is offered as an invitation addressed to the community (thanks to the synergy with the local entities of SPRAR Sistema di protezione per richiedenti asilo e rifugiati)as well as an articulated art project presented by Galleria Marconi of Monsanpolo del Tronto (Ascoli Piceno) in collaboration with CRAC - Chiara Ronchini Arte Contemporanea This proposal has at its base an obvious and virtuous comparison with some Pascalian peculiarities starting from the noted multimedia experimentation and the high rate of performativity we could discern a connoted and welcoming “Mediterranean matrix” therefore also in this way in which the Foundation hosts exhibition routes popular initiatives and temporary exhibitions which are developed immediately next to Pascali’s core But in addition to welcoming on site As in the case of the two participations in the collateral events of La Biennale Arte di Venezia in the last 2011 and particularly in this 2019 with a wide and highly curated retrospective by Antonio Frugis and Roberto Lacarbonara set in Venice in Palazzo Cavanis that opens to the public of exhibitions for the first time just with Pino Pascali narrow roads in the centre are lined with trulli that have been made over as restaurants and sweet stores selling trinkets this town has winding streets leading to centuries-old churches and chalky houses covered with climbing vines and cacti clusters of buzzing aperitivo bars are packed with locals on their passeggiata Don’t miss the famous coffee from Bar Turismo easily identifiable thanks to the customers sitting on the steps outside with its signature pour: made with a shot of amaretto head into the old town and find La Balconata sul Mare The best beaches in Italy to visit this summer this hilltop town has olive groves stretching to the Adriatic Sea about 40 minutes down the coast from Polignano a Mare Get lost in the narrow streets that climb up to restaurant La Piazzetta Cattedrale before stopping in one of the bars serving perfect Negronis that line the cobbled alleys the quiet medieval port town of Monopoli has a sandy beach and plenty of authentic pizzerias There’s a promenade to stroll along while admiring the traditional blue fishing boats bobbing in the Porto Vecchio harbour laundry hangs from balconies and local nonnas handcraft regional orecchiette pasta on the doorsteps of family-run restaurants where yachts dock in the harbour and a beautiful Romanesque duomo is set right over the sea This little village is about an hour’s drive north of Bari with a web of streets that make up the old town and a thrumming Jewish quarter Nearly all of its many churches – there are more than 40 dotted across the city – were built in the 17th century which gives the place a real sense of architectural symmetry The relaxed feel stems from the fact that this is a university town and the surrounding area is greener and more wild than elsewhere in Puglia – the Parco Nazionale del Gargano is brilliant for hiking this is the biggest village in Valle d’Itria The pretty old town is separated from the new town by baroque gates which when Martina Franca was a completely walled fortress The piazzas are home to grand duomos and palazzos: don’t miss Basilica di San Martino Keep scrolling to see more photos of the prettiest towns in Puglia 104 beautiful pictures of Italy The prettiest small towns in Italy The best villages in and around Cinque Terre, Italy but a whole host of restaurants showcasing the very best in local cuisine From authentic Apulian and Mediterranean fare to traditional Japanese eats and ‘fast seafood’ we bring you Polignano a Mare’s best local restaurants Courtesy Of Management Southern Italy might not seem the likeliest locale for traditional Japanese cuisine. But given Polignano a Mare’s seaside setting there’s certainly enough raw seafood produce to satisfy any diner visiting the town’s only resident ‘Giapponese’ restaurant, Puro Small plates like tuna tataki or edamame are followed by a wide selection of sushi (such as nigiri hosomaki and futomaki rolled with fresh fish including spicy shrimp and hot dishes including cod tempura and pork tonkatsu which are all perfectly washed down with Puro’s range of sake import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Osteria Piga © jeffreyw/Flickr With some of the most breathtaking views in all of Polignano a Mare, Specchia Sant’Oronzo offers diners more than just mouthwatering Mediterranean fare the restaurant’s coveted garden patio looks out over the pretty town giving guests an unabashedly romantic spot in which to try the delicious dishes Try the codfish involtini with bacon and caramelized red onion truffle cream and prague ham or taralli-crusted sea bream with prawns and a red pepper sorbet import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_2"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Leo’s Braceria Brasserie Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Courtesy MINT Cucina Fresca With a menu that has the best organic, seasonal fare the Apulia region has to offer, MINT Cucina Fresca is perfect for foodies looking for a true taste of local produce. Opened in 2013 by owners Liu, a native of Brazil from northern Italy’s Trento Alto Adige region MINT Cucina Fresca’s cuisine takes in plenty of global influences guests can expect healthy dishes like chickpea veggie burgers and cauliflower couscous with avocado Courtesy of Pescaria Pescaria described as a ‘fast food fish restaurant’ by founders Domingo Ludice and Bartolo L’Abbate is one of Polignano a Mare’s newest culinary additions but is fast finding its feet with its delicious array of raw and cooked seafood fare Chef Lucio Mele heads the restaurant’s kitchen cooking up creative eats like fried cod with crunchy greens and salmon tartare with red onion But if there’s one must-try dish at Pescaria it’s the popular fried octopus panini with sautéed chicory import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_4"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Casa Mia Helen Armitage lives near Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England where she recently graduated with a Masters in Magazine Journalism feminism and film and her favourite destinations are New York City and Dublin She is about to embark on a three-month placement in Seville Spain and in the future would love to visit Reykjavik Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Art A Tour of Bernini's Masterpieces in Rome See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips This 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.inline-heading__title{font-size:41px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.inline-heading--chapter .inline-heading__title{margin-left:24px;width:calc(66.66% - 8px)}}@media(min-width:1200px){.inline-heading--chapter .inline-heading__title{margin-left:24px;width:calc(74.9925% - 6px)}}.inline-heading__chapter{color:var(--title-color,#000f1e73);font-size:31px;line-height:calc(var(--title-line-height-factor 1)*1.09756);margin-bottom:20px}@media screen and (min-width:375px){.inline-heading__chapter{font-size:calc((26.56225px + 1.1834vw)*var(--title-font-size-factor July 23 or read on to see how all the dives went down.Trieste Alessandro de Rose cliff diving in Trieste © Damiano Levati/Red Bull Content Pool See Alessandro De Rose cliff diving in Porto Venere WatchPorto Venere came next when De Rose arrowed down from a cliff overlooking the famous Gulf of Poets.A moment of relaxation after the dive Alessandro De Rose cliff diving in the Canyon Park at Bagni di Lucca WatchFollowing on from that was the Canyon Park at Bagni di Lucca, where De Rose entered the Lima River from a 21m-high bridge.Taking the plunge in Bagni di Lucca Watch Alessandro De Rose dive from a high bridge in Furore WatchPossibly the most breathtaking location of the lot was the 31m-high bridge at Fiordo di Furore on the Amalfi Coast.Spectacular surroundings in Furore See Alessandro De Rose cliff diving on Italy's Gargano peninsula WatchFinishing off the tour, De Rose took the plunge from 23m at the Grotta dei Pipistrelli (The Bat Cave!) on the Gargano peninsula.The craggy beauty of Gargano September 23, 2018Red Bull Cliff Diving, Polignano A Mare, ItalyView Event InfoSharePart of this story Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time As Italy wrestles with how to manage the effects of mass tourism on places like Venice and Florence a clifftop village in the south of the country has caused controversy by charging visitors to enter its historic centre Tourists have to pay €5 ($7.81) to enter the cobbled heart of Polignano a Mare a spectacularly sited village of whitewashed houses and churches perched on top of vertical cliffs in the southern region of Puglia Critics say the new scheme represents the unacceptable commercialisation of a public space that should be open to everyone Alberobello is visited by around two million tourists a year.Credit: Shutterstock Turnstiles have been installed at the entrances to the village winding streets and panoramic terraces which dates its origins back to a Greek settlement of the fourth century BC It is famous for cliff-diving and for being the birthplace of Domenico Modugno originally entitled Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu The ticketing system started this month and will cover the whole Christmas season until Epiphany on January 6 a period in which the village is illuminated by thousands of festive lights said the tickets buy not just entry to the town "The aim is to attract tourists even during the winter months," he told The Telegraph "We have big numbers of visitors during the summer but then it dwindles to almost nothing by October and the town is dead We want to make it less seasonally dependent Puglia is largely known as a summer destination with cheap flights to Bari and Brindisi bringing in a growing number of British tourists said the ticketing system was a dangerous precedent which risks turning popular destinations into Disney-style attractions "Installing turnstiles and charging people to enter one of the most famous historic villages in Italy is detrimental to what should be a public place," a local business association "Turning the town into a sort of show business The town should be part of the cultural heritage of the whole world." the artistic director of a local music festival said: "The fundamental point is that you cannot restrict access to a public place which everyone should be allowed to see." is thinking of challenging the ticketing system in court with visitors able to buy a ticket that would give them access to parts of the town that are rarely explored Alberobello is visited by around two million tourists a year and the council is banking on bringing in hundreds of thousands of euros in extra revenue with the ticket idea Venice introduced turnstiles in order to manage the huge flux of tourists descending on the World Heritage city perched on an outcrop of tufa rock north of Rome Access is easily controlled – centuries of rock falls and landslides mean that the village is reachable only via a long pedestrian bridge that spans a deep canyon The village has a permanent population of less than 10 but hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year many of them Asians who are drawn by its association with a popular Japanese animated film The entry fee used to be just €1.50 but the local mayor says that the more expensive it becomes The number of tourists heading for Italy is steadily increasing civil strife and political instability that have afflicted other Mediterranean destinations such as Tunisia Italy received just under 49 million international arrivals in 2014 nearly 51 million in 2016 and this year's total is expected to reach 57 million See also: Aussie in Rome reveals what it's really like to live in Italy See also: Has tourism ruined Venice? We visited in the busiest month of the year to find out Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. As Italy wrestles with how to manage the effects of mass tourism on places like Venice and Florence, a clifftop village in the south of the country has caused controversy by charging visitors to enter its historic centre. Tourists have to pay \\u20AC5 ($7.81) to enter the cobbled heart of Polignano a Mare, a spectacularly sited village of whitewashed houses and churches perched on top of vertical cliffs in the southern region of Puglia. Critics say the new scheme represents the unacceptable commercialisation of a public space that should be open to everyone. Turnstiles have been installed at the entrances to the village, a maze of piazzas, winding streets and panoramic terraces which dates its origins back to a Greek settlement of the fourth century BC. It is famous for cliff-diving and for being the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, who sang the classic 1958 hit Volare, originally entitled Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu. The ticketing system started this month and will cover the whole Christmas season until Epiphany on January 6, a period in which the village is illuminated by thousands of festive lights. Domenico Vitto, the mayor, said the tickets buy not just entry to the town, but also a bag of popcorn, a doughnut, candy floss and a drink. "The aim is to attract tourists even during the winter months," he told The Telegraph. "We have big numbers of visitors during the summer but then it dwindles to almost nothing by October and the town is dead. We want to make it less seasonally dependent. Puglia is largely known as a summer destination, with cheap flights to Bari and Brindisi bringing in a growing number of British tourists. Some locals, as well as heritage groups, said the ticketing system was a dangerous precedent which risks turning popular destinations into Disney-style attractions. "Installing turnstiles and charging people to enter one of the most famous historic villages in Italy is detrimental to what should be a public place," a local business association, Confesercenti Terra di Bari, said in a statement. "Turning the town into a sort of show business, as if it was a fun park for private use, is not a good idea. The town should be part of the cultural heritage of the whole world." Cesare Veronico, the artistic director of a local music festival, said: "The fundamental point is that you cannot restrict access to a public place, which everyone should be allowed to see." A heritage group, the Italian Environmental Fund or FAI, is thinking of challenging the ticketing system in court. The nearby town of Alberobello, which is famed for its "trulli", hobbit-like conical stone houses, is thinking of adopting a similar scheme, with visitors able to buy a ticket that would give them access to parts of the town that are rarely explored. Alberobello is visited by around two million tourists a year and the council is banking on bringing in hundreds of thousands of euros in extra revenue with the ticket idea. Puglia is not alone. Earlier this year, Venice introduced turnstiles in order to manage the huge flux of tourists descending on the World Heritage city, although entry remained free. The tiny hamlet of Civita di Bagnoregio, perched on an outcrop of tufa rock north of Rome, charges tourists a \\u20AC5 admission fee. Access is easily controlled \\u2013 centuries of rock falls and landslides mean that the village is reachable only via a long pedestrian bridge that spans a deep canyon. The village has a permanent population of less than 10 but hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, many of them Asians who are drawn by its association with a popular Japanese animated film, Laputa \\u2013 Castle in the Sky. The entry fee used to be just \\u20AC1.50 but the local mayor says that the more expensive it becomes, the greater number of tourists visit. The number of tourists heading for Italy is steadily increasing, driven in part by the terrorism attacks, civil strife and political instability that have afflicted other Mediterranean destinations such as Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt. Italy received just under 49 million international arrivals in 2014, nearly 51 million in 2016 and this year's total is expected to reach 57 million. The scheme has been criticised for turning the area into a ‘fun park’ I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Italian village in Puglia has started charging visitors an entry fee in a bid to attract tourists year-round Polignano a Mare in southern Italy has installed turnstiles and set a ticket price of €5 (£4.40) for entry to its cobbled streets piazzas and terraces during the festive period which are currently lit up by Christmas lights with the idea being to encourage people to come in the off-season as well as the summer “The aim is to attract tourists even during the winter months,” he told The Telegraph ”We have big numbers of visitors during the summer but then it dwindles to almost nothing by October and the town is dead “We want to make it less seasonally dependent “Last weekend alone we had 30,000 visitors.” Vitto has confirmed that residents “can come and go as they like and don’t have to buy the ticket" During the lead up to Christmas and New Year the village is illuminated by thousands of lights not everyone’s a fan of the radical concept said: “Installing turnstiles and charging people to enter one of the most famous historic villages in Italy is detrimental to what should be a public place “Turning the town into a sort of show business The town should be part of the cultural heritage of the whole world.” Meanwhile music festival artistic director Cesare Veronico said: “The fundamental point is that you cannot restrict access to a public place The village’s move to start charging in order to entice more tourists is at odds with other parts of Italy where turnstiles and ticketing have been introduced instead to tackle overtourism Venice, for example, hit headlines in April 2018 when it installed temporary turnstiles to separate locals and visitors with the latter prevented from using certain streets in a bid to disperse footfall over the busy bank holiday weekend However, protesters chanting “Free Venice” dismantled the check points a day after they were put up. “We refuse the idea of having checkpoints to get into the city. We own our city,” said Marco Baravalle in a video later posted on social media. “It’s not the mayor who owns the city. It’s not the police or the tourists either.” “Venice is dying,” he added. “The mayor putting in the turnstiles is demonstrating that he is giving up. He wants Venice to become a city with no inhabitants.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Romania’s Constantin Popovici scored a remarkable comeback victory atthe third stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in while Rhiannan Iffl and of Australia also made it back-to-backwins in front of 40,000 spectators at the home of European cliff diving got off to a slow start on the Adriatic coastbefore displaying almost mystical powers of recovery to fend off the strongchallenge of this year’s surprise World Series leader with just 0.25 points ultimately separating the two rivals in athrilling conclusion I’m happythat I recovered from my two fractures because I had two fractures on myknee and I’m happy I delivered the great performance today” whose stunning Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists Pikefrom the 27m platform in the fi nal round catapulted him to victory “It’sreally important because in Boston I lost a lot of points and they weregetting ahead of me Popovici now trails the super-consistent Lichtenstein by four points in theoverall standings and the 29-year-old American is relishing the battlesahead: “My two goals this season are to be healthy and be consistent but it’s defi nitely a race that anyone can win this year.” Great Britain’s Aidan Heslop sits fi ve points further back on the leaderboardfollowing his fourth-place fi nish in Italy.The men’s podium was completed by Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes whofi nished in the top three for the fi rst time in fi ve years while an eye-catching performance from 20-year-old Andrea Barnaba saw him take an impressive sixth place on home soil The Italian wildcard also earnedhimself a bonus World Series point for the best dive of the competition – asecond-round Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist Pike – which drew a 10 fromhead judge Anke Piper it was seven-time champion Iffl and whoextended her winning streak at this cliff diving mecca; the Australiantopping the podium once again after returning to winning ways in Boston.Even by her trailblazing standards eight wins in the last eight competitionsin this spot is a stunning record that can’t be matched by any diver in anylocation “That’s the eighth win here and I must have a connection with Polignano aMare Maybe it’s the ice cream,” joked Iffl and following her victory “I justlove coming back simply because of the energy of the crowd it reallycontributes to the energy that you put into the dives I think it’s going to bean exciting fight for the title this year The pressure is going to push me anddrive me and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.” proved that a podium on her recentdebut was no fl uke as she took the runner-up spot for the second stop in arow thanks in no small part to a majestic second-round Forward 3Somersaults ½ Twist Pike from the 21m platform a dive which also earnedher an extra World Series point The 31-year-old has now received an inviteto all remaining stops this season and looks certain to play a major part inwhat could be a thrilling title fi ght She currently sits in third place in theoverall standings while Canada’s Molly Carlson took third place to keep the heat on Iffl and in the overallstandings With one dive directly off a private balcony and three from the constructedplatforms across three days of competition sun-drenched Polignano a Mareonce again tested the skills and versatility of the world’s best cliff divers.Next up they’ll have three weeks to rest and recover before facing analtogether diff erent challenge as the season approaches its mid-way pointon the rough Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland Results Red Bull Cliff Diving Polignano a Mare WOMEN1- Rhiannan Iffl and AUS – 367.20pts.2- Kaylea Arnett (W) USA – 332.553- Molly Carlson CAN – 327.104- Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 291.255- Ginni Van Katwijk (W) NED – 290.306- Simone Leathead CAN – 279.907- Elisa Cosetti (W) ITA – 276.608- Maria Paula Quintero COL – 270.609- Meili Carpenter USA – 256.2010- Eleanor Smart USA – 211.7011- Madeleine Bayon (W) FRA – 205.3512- Yana Nestsiarava (W) IAT – 41.60 MEN1- Constantin Popovici ROU – 418.65pts.2- James Lichtenstein USA – 418.403- Jonathan Paredes MEX – 387.854- Aidan Heslop GBR – 385.155- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 378.306- Andrea Barnaba (W) ITA – 364.807- Yolotl Marinez (W) MEX – 354.908- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 352.809- Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 352.5010- Miguel Garcia (W) COL – 322.5011- Nikita Fedotov IAT – 198.0012- Davide Baraldi (W) ITA – 65.70 WOMEN1- Rhiannan Iffl and AUS – 57pts.2- Molly Carlson CAN – 463- Kaylea Arnett (W) USA – 334- Simone Leathead CAN – 295- Meili Carpenter USA – 20 MEN1- James Lichtenstein USA – 46pts.2- Constantin Popovici ROU – 423- Aidan Heslop GBR – 374- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 285- Jonathan Paredes MEX – 22