Cala Port'Alga: The Fishermen's Village and the Arch of Happiness

The name of this cove tells of its deep connection to nature's cycles. In winter, marine currents push large quantities of Posidonia oceanica (often called seaweed) into the inlet.

These ribbon-like leaves accumulate on the shore, forming a soft carpet that protects the beach from storm erosion. For locals, the arrival of the seaweed marks the changing of the seasons — the sea's natural rhythm "closing" the harbour for winter and returning it crystal clear for summer.

Cala Port'Alga is first and foremost a working place. You won't find paid sunbeds or noisy bars here, but typical Apulian gozzi — small wooden boats painted blue and red — moored peacefully or hauled up on the stone.

Early in the morning, you can spot fishermen mending nets or returning with the day's catch. The local speciality? Octopus, of course. Watching the old sea wolves beat the octopus on the rock to tenderise it is a hypnotic ritual that transports you back in time. Just a few metres away, every summer the same coastline is transformed by the roar of the Red Bull Cliff Diving — the contrast between Port'Alga's quiet and the event's adrenaline is one of Polignano's most fascinating paradoxes.

One of Port'Alga's most photographed symbols is an old wooden boat, split in two, resting on dry land. But it is not an abandoned wreck: it has been transformed into an open-air library.

Anyone passing by can take a book, sit on the rocks and read lulled by the sea, or leave a volume for the next visitor. It is a spontaneous bookcrossing born from residents' love for this place. "Take a book, leave a book": a simple gesture that makes culture as accessible as the horizon you admire from here.

At the entrance to the cove stands an ancient stone arch — perhaps a remnant of old buildings or fortifications. Its solitary presence has inspired a sweet local legend over time.

It is said that couples who pass hand in hand beneath this arch will have a happy and lasting marriage. It is not uncommon to see young lovers (or future spouses in wedding attire!) coming here to take a photo under the arch, sealing their promise with the blessing of Polignano's sea.