Up the coast and into the olive groves

 

We set off North and stopped to look at charming Polignano a Mare tucked behind its sea wall. Although very picturesque it was on everyone else’s itinerary too with large coach groups and school children thronging through the tiny alleyways.

We stopped for a coffee in the pretty square- the church was closed for renovations.

Onto San Vito where there’s an old Benedictine abbey and a pretty cove with 3 restaurants! We stopped for a sketch & then lunch. Here there were mostly Italians and no crowds.

In the sea are ruined constructions which we think might be old fish pens.

The last town on the coast before we turned inland was Cozze where we had a short siesta.

Inland and over the motorway and into beautiful flat farmland with lettuce and potato fields, lots of olive groves among the cheerful poppies- we were told some trees are 2000 years old!

and also delicious cherries as promised!

There are beautiful wild flowers everywhere.

We arrived in Conversano about 4.30 after a very pleasant gentle climb.

Unfortunately my back is sore for no good reason but I’m hoping it will calm down!