Polignano a Mare and Grotte di Castellana

This pairing combines clifftop Polignano a Mare with the underground Grotte di Castellana, both short train rides south of Bari. Trenitalia reaches Polignano in about 35 minutes (€3); from there a regional train continues to Castellana Grotte (around 10 minutes, €2), or the two towns are 20 km apart by car. Polignano is famous for its old town perched on white limestone cliffs above the Adriatic, the Lama Monachile cove beach framed by a Roman bridge, and balconies and terraces hanging over the sea; it is also the birthplace of singer Domenico Modugno, whose statue on the seafront honours 'Volare'. A typical morning wanders the whitewashed lanes, pauses at the cliff-edge belvederes, and tries the local gelato or sea-urchin in season. In the afternoon the Grotte di Castellana, among Italy's most spectacular show caves, are explored on a guided route — the full tour runs about 2 hours over roughly 3 km, ending at the luminous Grotta Bianca, considered the whitest cavern in the world — while the shorter route covers about 1 km. The caves hold a constant 15°C year-round, so a light layer is sensible even in summer, and the walkways are damp and stepped, calling for non-slip shoes. Linking the two by train is straightforward and avoids parking, though a car gives more flexibility between the coast and the inland caves. Booking the cave tour in advance at grottedicastellana.it is strongly advised, as departures are at fixed times with limited places. Together the pair makes a varied day combining dramatic sea views, swimming or a clifftop stroll, and an unforgettable descent beneath the Murgia plateau.