Grotta Palazzese in Polignano a Mare: History of the Cave Restaurant

Grotta Palazzese is a natural sea cave in Polignano a Mare, now home to a famous hotel and restaurant built inside the rocky cavity, with a direct view over the Adriatic.

History

• The cave has been known and used for parties and banquets since the 1700s
• Its name comes from having belonged to the ancient Leto family, lords of Polignano until the end of the 18th century
• An 1783 watercolor by Jean Louis Desprez documents the cave's use during that period
• In the 1920s it first became a beach establishment, then a fashionable meeting place
• In the 1960s the Hotel Grotta Palazzese was built, with a staircase leading down to the restaurant
• The current restaurant opened in May 2007, with a terrace seating up to 150 people beneath the cave's vault

What to expect

Grotta Palazzese is a private property (hotel and restaurant), not a freely accessible site: experiencing it in person requires a table or a room reservation. The cave itself, however, is visible from the sea while sailing along the Polignano coast.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Grotta Palazzese without a reservation?
No, it's private property: access to the restaurant and hotel requires a reservation.

How long has the restaurant existed?
The current restaurant opened in May 2007, but the cave has been used for events since the 1700s.

This is one of the landmarks along the coast between Monopoli and Polignano: read the complete guide to what to see between Monopoli and Polignano or discover luxury yacht charter in Puglia.

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