Close-up view of the Santo Stefano Bastion and sea caves in Polignano a Mare, Puglia, at twilight

This view documents a section of the historical center of Polignano a Mare, focusing on the Santo Stefano Bastion complex. This architectural element, along with its characteristic panoramic terrace that juts out over the cliff, is integrated with the white lime dwellings rising directly on the edge of the limestone cliff, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The urban configuration utilizes the coastal morphology, typical of a settlement which, according to some sources, was founded by the Greek Dionysius II of Syracuse in the 4th century B.C. Below the structures, several natural sea caves are visible, cavities formed by sea erosion in the rock. The captured moment is twilight, an hour when artificial lights emanating from the Bastion and other buildings create a warm contrast with the cold tones of the sky and the seawater. The scene illustrates the interaction between the historical defensive structure, civil architecture, and the coastal geological environment.

Polignano in Mare, Puglia, Italy, Bastion of Santo Stefano, panoramic terrace, cliff, Adriatic Sea, marine caves, peak houses, historic centre, white architecture, twilight, coastal village