The Hotel
History
The ancient town of Polignano a Mare sits atop a rocky cliff. Over aeons the limestone rocks and the sea have carved out sea caves which wind beneath the streets of the town. Of these caves the largest is the Grotta Pallazzese, which lies at the heart of the hotel, and once belonged to the feudal lord.
Down the ages travellers, including Giovanna queen of Hungary, have sought out the peace and tranquility of Polignano a Mare and its caverns. French and British travellers doing the Grand Tour in the kingdom of Naples, included the caverns of Poloignano a Mare on their itinerary, would write home of their beauty and majesty. By the 1700s the caves were well established as function rooms for noblemen and local dignitaries. Today, this cavern houses the hotel's famous summer restaurant.
The summer restaurant was described as follows in Weekend Magazine: "You will find that the dining room is not only open air but is suspended inside the most famous of these caverns: the Palazzese cavern...so, while you enjoy your beautiful seafood dinner, above and all around you the rocks sparkle and before you lie the boats fishing close to the shore..."
Fodor's Travel Guide describes it as "one of the most romantic settings in all Italy".
HistoryThe ancient town of Polignano a Mare sits atop a rocky cliff. Over aeons the limestone rocks and the sea have carved out sea caves which wind beneath the streets of the town. Of these caves the largest is the Grotta Pallazzese, which lies at the heart of the hotel, and once belonged to the feudal lord.
Down the ages travellers, including Giovanna queen of Hungary, have sought out the peace and tranquility of Polignano a Mare and its caverns. French and British travellers doing the Grand Tour in the kingdom of Naples, included the caverns of Poloignano a Mare on their itinerary, would write home of their beauty and majesty. By the 1700s the caves were well established as function rooms for noblemen and local dignitaries. Today, this cavern houses the hotel's famous summer restaurant.
The summer restaurant was described as follows in Weekend Magazine: "You will find that the dining room is not only open air but is suspended inside the most famous of these caverns: the Palazzese cavern...so, while you enjoy your beautiful seafood dinner, above and all around you the rocks sparkle and before you lie the boats fishing close to the shore..."
Fodor's Travel Guide describes it as "one of the most romantic settings in all Italy".
