View of Cala Monachile and the Bourbon Bridge in Polignano a Mare, Puglia, at twilight

This view documents an iconic section of Polignano a Mare, focusing on Cala Monachile (or Lama Monachile), a natural cove with a pebble beach situated between high limestone cliffs. Above the cove stands the Bourbon Bridge (Ponte Borbonico), a stone arch structure built in 1836 by decree of Ferdinand II of Bourbon as part of the new road artery between Bari and Lecce. Although the visible structure dates to the 19th century, it connects the two sides of the cove along the historical path of the ancient Via Traiana, which passed through the area. The town develops along the edges of the inlet, with white lime buildings directly overlooking the cliff face. The captured moment corresponds to twilight, with the first artificial lights from the buildings and the bridge illuminating the architecture and the roadway. The seawater displays turquoise and dark blue tones, with waves reaching the shore. The scene illustrates the superimposition of subsequent modern engineering, historical urban development, and the natural morphology of the Apulian coast

Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Apulia, Italy, Cala Monachile, Lama Monachile, Bourbon Bridge, Ponte Borbonico, Ferdinand II, Bourbon, cliff, cove, pebble beach, Adriatic Sea, white architecture, historical center, twilight, village, coastal landscape