That photo you see in front of most summer/beach related posts from the media? It’s here.
Summer is on its way and I see a lot of media outlets pushing their summer-related articles and posts, and most of the time, they tend to choose a very summery, beachy photo. And most of that time, I found, it’s this place: Polignano a Mare.
Polignano a Mare is the home to very famed Italian singer and songwriter Domenico Modugno. I’ve never heard of him, but his song is wordwide famous. It’s known as “Volare,” but it was officially titled as “Nel blu dipinto di blu” in 1958. Written by Modugno (who is considered to be Italy’s first ever singer-songwriter) and his friend Franco Migliacci, it was inspired by paintings by Marc Chagall, a dream which Migliacci had after an evening of wine and, of course, the blue, blue sea of Polignano a Mare. The song became an international hit, winning the Sanremo Music Festival and eventually the hearts of millions around the world. In fact, Modugno’s recording of the song became the first Grammy winner for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1958. So if anyone asks which song was the first ever to win a Grammy, it was the Italian song “Volare.”
The original is very different from the fast pace, summer festival version many may know. Here’s the original and this will take you to Gypsy King’s version.
슬슬 여름이 올 조짐이 보이기 시작하니 여행 관련 미디어나 블로그들이 슬슬 여름 관련 기사들을 내놓고 있는 가운데. 대표적인 사진이 폴리냐노 아 마레인 것을 발견! 폴리냐노 아 마레는 이탈리아 남부의 작은 도시. 무엇보다도 “볼라레”라는 노래를 만들고 부른 주인공, 도메니코 모두뇨의 고향으로 유명하다. 노래의 내용은 간단하다: 푸르고 푸른 바다, 푸른 빛으로 칠한 듯한 하늘에 대한 노래. 노래에 대한 조사를 하다가 발견한 재밌는 사실. 그래미상을 받은 최초의 올해의 노래가 바로 “볼라레”였다. 원곡과 우리가 많이 알고 있는 번안된 버전.
두시간 정도면 온 동네를 둘러볼 수 있을 정도로 작은 마을이다. 해안과 절벽 그리고 절벽과 동굴 안에 자리잡은 호텔, 바, 레스토랑 그리고 카페 등으로 유명한 곳.
The little town is located in southern Italy, an hour drive from G’s hometown and thirty minute drive from Bari. It’s on the Adriatic Sea and in fact the name itself means Polignano “over the sea.” It’s a small town but the view is quite impressive, hence all the articles. The caves, the cliffs and the small cafes, restaurants and bars built inside and under the caves are the main attractions, not to mention some beaches along the coastline. Some serious views. Amazing views.
On a side note, Japanese pop star Utada Hikaru apprently got married here to an Italian bartender (also from here). I used to listen to her (“First Love”) when I was young so, memories. A small world, for some reason.
뉴스를 보다가 알게된 사실. “First Love”이라는 노래로 한국에서도 인기를 꽤 끌어다가 갑자가 사라졌던 일본 팝가수 우타다 히카루가 2014년에 이곳에서 이탈리아인 바텐더와 결혼을 했다. 저 노래로 되게 좋아했는데 뭔가 세월의 무상함이 느껴졌던 순간.
It’s one of the most popular features when it comes to summer, including Buzzfeed, CNN Travel and many more. And if there’s one thing that also happens to make headlines, it’s about the beautiful hotel restaurant Grotta Palazesse. It was under construction so it was impossible to take a peek inside, but from G’s sister, I hear that the view is amazing, but the food, not so great. The food used to be good, but now it’s mostly about the view and that special feeling of wining and dining inside a cave right next to the sea.
동굴안에 위치하고 있어 유명해진 호텔 레스토랑 Grotta Palazesse. 공사중이라 들어가보진 못했지만 가본 사람들에 의하면, 바다와 가까워 분위기도 좋고 근사한데 비싼 가격에 비해 음식이 형편없다고. 하지만 여기서 정해준 메뉴를 먹지 않으면 들어갈 수도 없게 만들어놔서 어쩔 수 없이 맛없는 음식을 먹을 수 밖에.
All photos by rachelsanghee. May, 2014.