The arcaded loggia and bell tower of the Abbey of San Vito in Polignano a Mare, with the full moon over the sea
The Abbey of San Vito stands on the coast in the hamlet of the same name, north of Polignano a Mare, overlooking a small landing place. According to tradition, the relics of Saint Vitus arrived on this stretch of coast in the early Middle Ages. The monastery's history includes a medieval Benedictine phase and a later Franciscan presence. In 1866, the abbey was sold into private ownership, while the church remained under separate ownership. On 14 June, the saint's statue is carried by sea in a procession from San Vito to Polignano. The complex retains elements from different periods, including a church of medieval origin, monastic buildings and later additions. The bell tower rises above them, facing the sea and topped by a spire. A flight of steps leads to an arcaded loggia with a balustrade, a distinctive feature of the seaward façade. The loggia and staircase fill the foreground, with the main abbey building and bell tower to the right, and the hamlet's white houses and coastal pines to the left. Shortly after sunset, the full moon appears above the pink band along the eastern horizon.
