A sailing boat at anchor off the Bari seafront at sunrise over the Adriatic, with a vertical band of light above the sun

This view of the sea off Bari's seafront was taken from San Nicola pier, a few metres above the water, looking towards the eastern horizon at sunrise. In the centre, a sailing boat lies at anchor in front of a long breakwater. On the right, the city skyline includes the tower of the Palazzo della Provincia and the waterfront buildings. A thin vertical band of light is visible above the sun's disc, consistent with a sun pillar. This optical phenomenon occurs when sunlight is reflected by small ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, often shaped like plates and oriented almost horizontally. The reflected light appears to the observer as a vertical band. Sun pillars are most often seen when the sun is low on the horizon, at sunrise or sunset. The photograph was taken in early October, during sunrise. High clouds veil the sky, which is crossed by a few contrails. A golden reflection stretches across the gently rippled surface of the sea.

sailing boat, rising sun, sunrise, sun pillar, optical phenomenon, Adriatic Sea, San Nicola pier, breakwater, contrails, Bari seafront, Palazzo della Provincia, Bari, Apulia