Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Polignano a Mare, world capital of high diving

Every year, the historic center of Polignano a Mare, in the Province of Bari, transforms into one of the most iconic arenas on the planet for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, the global high-diving circuit. The famous cliffs dropping into the Adriatic and the small beach of Lama Monachile (Cala Porto) become a natural amphitheater where thousands of people crowd among rocks, cliffs, terraces, and balconies to witness an event that combines extreme sport, adrenaline, and one of the most photographed landscapes in Puglia.

What is cliff diving?

Cliff diving is the discipline of diving from great heights: athletes launch themselves from dizzying platforms and, in just three seconds of flight, reach speeds of up to 85 km/h before breaking the water's surface. In Polignano, men dive from a platform set at 27 meters high, while women compete from 21 meters—heights impossible for traditional Olympic diving, which here become the standard for one of the most adrenaline-fueled competitions in existence. Each dive lasts a handful of moments but requires years of preparation, absolute body control, and nerves of steel.

A historic stage of the world circuit

Polignano has hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving since 2009 and is now considered one of the circuit's signature venues, capable of combining the technical difficulty of the site with the spectacular nature of the setting. The Apulian stage is traditionally one of the decisive phases of the world season, with the best male and female divers in the world—24 athletes in total, plus several wildcards—vying for crucial points in the race for the world title. Over the years, the competition has drawn approximately 35,000 spectators per edition to Polignano, confirming the town as one of the most beloved destinations on the calendar.

A free event in the heart of Puglia

The great strength of the Polignano stage is its accessibility: the event is free and can be experienced directly from the historic center, the cliffs, and the panoramic viewpoints overlooking the sea. Lama Monachile, nestled between the two high rock walls upon which the old town rests, offers a close-up view unique in the world, while the terraces and alleys fill with curious onlookers, fans, and tourists. The event has become one of the highlights of the summer and early autumn in Puglia, bringing international visibility to Polignano and the entire Region.

Not just sport

Around the competition, the village experiences days of great excitement: bars, restaurants, and accommodation facilities operate at full capacity, while images of the dives over the sea of Polignano travel the world thanks to the circuit's television and social media coverage. Attending the Red Bull Cliff Diving is also an opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful villages on the Apulian Adriatic coast, the home of Domenico Modugno and his sea caves.