Punti panoramici della scogliera (Terrazza Santo Stefano e Terrazza di Santa Candida)

Two named terraces, a flower-lined stairway and hanging gardens form a chain of viewpoints along Polignano a Mare's cliff edge. Terrazza Santo Stefano and Terrazza di Santa Candida look over the Adriatic from opposite sides of the old town, where limestone drops steeply to the water.

Why it matters

Polignano a Mare occupies a narrow limestone shelf above the sea. Its terraces and balconies make the cliff edge part of the town's public landscape, opening views from the historic centre to the Adriatic.

What to notice

Terrazza Santo Stefano projects over open water beside Lama Monachile. The Scalinata dei Balconi Fioriti climbs between flower-lined walls to another terrace, with views back across the whitewashed houses and out to sea. Giardini Pensili are small private gardens on the cliff rim, planted with flowers and aromatic plants and occasionally shown on guided visits.

Context and history

The historic centre is entered through the sixteenth-century Arco Marchesale. Houses press toward the limestone edge, where balconies overlook the sea. The cliffs below the terraces form part of the coastal landscape that has also hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving competition.