Statua di Domenico Modugno

On the Lungomare Domenico Modugno in Polignano a Mare, a three-metre bronze figure of the singer stands with arms outstretched above the Adriatic. Modugno was born in the town in 1928, and the statue has become one of its best-known landmarks.

Why it matters

The statue connects Polignano with one of Italy's most widely known popular singers. Its open-armed pose evokes the exuberance of Modugno's performance style and the song “Nel blu dipinto di blu,” widely known as “Volare.” The seafront setting links the figure to the town where his life began.

What to notice

The bronze captures Modugno with both arms spread wide, a gesture that gives the sculpture an expansive silhouette against the sea. Its placement on the namesake promenade makes the figure part of the town's coastal landscape and its public memory of the singer.

Context and history

Domenico Modugno was born in Polignano a Mare on 9 January 1928. A statue honouring him was unveiled on the seafront in 2009. The monument makes Modugno's musical legacy part of the town's public landscape.