Boat Tour of Polignano a Mare Caves with Aperitif
by Pugliamare
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€70Overview
This boat tour along the coast of Polignano a Mare lasts about 90 minutes and departs from the Port of San Vito, located 10 minutes by car from Polignano’s center. The tour visits all the coastal caves of Polignano, including Grotta Palazzese, Grotta delle Rondinelle, Cala Port’alga, and Grotta degli Innamorati, while passing by the Scoglio dell’Eremita. During the trip, there is a stop for swimming in the clear waters of the Polignano coast. On board, guests receive an aperitif consisting of taralli and prosecco. The boat is operated by a professional skipper. There is also an optional transfer service available to and from the port. Along the way, you will see the small fishing port of San Vito with the 18th-century Abbey of San Vito overlooking the marina, the control tower, and fishponds used historically for storing live fish. The tour includes stops or views of Cala Paura cove, Grottone cave (known for hosting a cinema in the early 1900s), the blue-lit Grotta Azzurra under Santo Stefano Bastion, and Lama Monachile beach, the town's most photographed spot with its rock tunnel cave and the bronze statue of singer Domenico Modugno. The famous Palazzese Cave is also part of the route, noted for its two caverns and a small pebble beach, as well as the nearby islet with the iron cross placed by missionaries in 1901 and a chapel once dedicated to St. Antonio Abate. The boat trip combines sightseeing, a swimming break, and an onboard aperitif for a relaxed outing on the sea.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Abbazia di San Vito
The tour starts at the small fishing port of San Vito, where the 18th-century Abbey of San Vito overlooks the marina. Nearby are the control tower and fishponds that were used to keep live fish during winter.
10 min
Cala Paura
The first coastal recess visited is Cala Paura, originally called Cala Paguro after the local dialect for hermit crab. On the rocks is the iron letter writing “Torno Subito,” made by an Iranian sculptor whose subject remains unknown.
5 min
Grottone
Immediately after Cala Paura is Grottone cave, which in the early 1900s housed a cinema accessed through a small sea door.
5 min
Grotta Azzurra
Located beneath Santo Stefano Bastion, this cave gets its name from the blue light created by sunlight mixing with sea water and rocks.
5 min
Lama Monachile
Known as Polignano’s postcard image, Lama Monachile is the most photographed beach and the town’s original commercial port in the 15th century. From the sea, the cliff of Bastione di Santo Stefano is on the left and a rock tunnel cave called Grotta della Piana is visible on the right, near the bronze statue of singer Domenico Modugno.
5 min
Statua di Domenico Modugno
The bronze statue of Polignano-born singer Domenico Modugno, famous for “Volare - Nel blu dipinto di Blu,” sits atop the rocks near Lama Monachile.
Grotta Palazzese
This cave contains two caverns and a small pebble beach. In the 1920s it housed one of Italy’s first bathing establishments, now known for the restaurant sharing its name.
5 min
Islet with Iron Cross
The nearby islet is linked to legends about a pilgrim from the Holy Land and historical use as a chapel dedicated to St. Antonio Abate. The church was destroyed after serving as a lazaret during the 1837 cholera epidemic. In 1901 missionaries installed the iron cross that remains on the rock.
5 min
Meeting point
By car the coastal road by the sea is closed northbound until the end of September. To reach us, take the San Vito - San Giovanni junction from the Tangenziale or Complanare; continue straight to the end of the road and you will arrive at your destination. It is possible to park.
End point
By car the coastal road by the sea is closed northbound until the end of September. To reach us, take the San Vito - San Giovanni junction from the Tangenziale or Complanare; continue straight to the end of the road and you will arrive at your destination. It is possible to park.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Boat Tour of Polignano a Mare Caves with Aperitif
by Pugliamare
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€70Overview
This boat tour along the coast of Polignano a Mare lasts about 90 minutes and departs from the Port of San Vito, located 10 minutes by car from Polignano’s center. The tour visits all the coastal caves of Polignano, including Grotta Palazzese, Grotta delle Rondinelle, Cala Port’alga, and Grotta degli Innamorati, while passing by the Scoglio dell’Eremita. During the trip, there is a stop for swimming in the clear waters of the Polignano coast. On board, guests receive an aperitif consisting of taralli and prosecco. The boat is operated by a professional skipper. There is also an optional transfer service available to and from the port. Along the way, you will see the small fishing port of San Vito with the 18th-century Abbey of San Vito overlooking the marina, the control tower, and fishponds used historically for storing live fish. The tour includes stops or views of Cala Paura cove, Grottone cave (known for hosting a cinema in the early 1900s), the blue-lit Grotta Azzurra under Santo Stefano Bastion, and Lama Monachile beach, the town's most photographed spot with its rock tunnel cave and the bronze statue of singer Domenico Modugno. The famous Palazzese Cave is also part of the route, noted for its two caverns and a small pebble beach, as well as the nearby islet with the iron cross placed by missionaries in 1901 and a chapel once dedicated to St. Antonio Abate. The boat trip combines sightseeing, a swimming break, and an onboard aperitif for a relaxed outing on the sea.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Abbazia di San Vito
The tour starts at the small fishing port of San Vito, where the 18th-century Abbey of San Vito overlooks the marina. Nearby are the control tower and fishponds that were used to keep live fish during winter.
10 min
Cala Paura
The first coastal recess visited is Cala Paura, originally called Cala Paguro after the local dialect for hermit crab. On the rocks is the iron letter writing “Torno Subito,” made by an Iranian sculptor whose subject remains unknown.
5 min
Grottone
Immediately after Cala Paura is Grottone cave, which in the early 1900s housed a cinema accessed through a small sea door.
5 min
Grotta Azzurra
Located beneath Santo Stefano Bastion, this cave gets its name from the blue light created by sunlight mixing with sea water and rocks.
5 min
Lama Monachile
Known as Polignano’s postcard image, Lama Monachile is the most photographed beach and the town’s original commercial port in the 15th century. From the sea, the cliff of Bastione di Santo Stefano is on the left and a rock tunnel cave called Grotta della Piana is visible on the right, near the bronze statue of singer Domenico Modugno.
5 min
Statua di Domenico Modugno
The bronze statue of Polignano-born singer Domenico Modugno, famous for “Volare - Nel blu dipinto di Blu,” sits atop the rocks near Lama Monachile.
Grotta Palazzese
This cave contains two caverns and a small pebble beach. In the 1920s it housed one of Italy’s first bathing establishments, now known for the restaurant sharing its name.
5 min
Islet with Iron Cross
The nearby islet is linked to legends about a pilgrim from the Holy Land and historical use as a chapel dedicated to St. Antonio Abate. The church was destroyed after serving as a lazaret during the 1837 cholera epidemic. In 1901 missionaries installed the iron cross that remains on the rock.
5 min
Meeting point
By car the coastal road by the sea is closed northbound until the end of September. To reach us, take the San Vito - San Giovanni junction from the Tangenziale or Complanare; continue straight to the end of the road and you will arrive at your destination. It is possible to park.
End point
By car the coastal road by the sea is closed northbound until the end of September. To reach us, take the San Vito - San Giovanni junction from the Tangenziale or Complanare; continue straight to the end of the road and you will arrive at your destination. It is possible to park.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.