In Polignano a Mare, they pay tribute to their favorite son, Domenico Modugno.
In 1958, there was no bigger international star than Domenico Modugno.
Dominico was an Italian songwriter and performer who co-wrote “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” commonly known as “Volare.” The song was a worldwide hit, spending five weeks atop the charts in the United States and selling a staggering 1,000,000 copies in Italy.
Domenico Modugno was born in Polignaro al Mare, a gorgeous seaside town in Puglia, the region of Italy that looks like the heel of the boot. In early 1958, Domenico sang Volare, a song he co-wrote with Franco Migliacci, on the Eurovision song contest. Though Volare came in third, the song took off like a rocket, due in no small part of Modugno’s charismatic stage presence. While singing he would often accentuate the performance by raising his arms, spreading them wide, as if he was trying to embrace the audience.
In 1984, Domenico suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed. He fought for the rights of the disabled and won a seat in parliament in 1987. Domenico had a heart attack in 1994 and died at his home.
In 2009, a bronze statue of Domenico Modugno was unveiled in his hometown of Polignaro al Mare. Near the water and spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea, visitors often stop to pose with the crooner, mimicking his outstretched arms.
The statue is hardly the only thing to see in Polignaro al Mare. Lama Monachile is a tiny crescent beach that hosts the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. There’s also boat rides available where you can see the nearby sea caves.
Flights to Bari, the largest airport in Puglia are available via connection in Rome or Milan. Other cities also offer flights to Bari, but they are often seasonal.
From Bari Centrale station, you can get a train to Polignano a Mare.
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink, including several in Italy. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.
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