Constantin Popovici of Romania contemplates souvenirs while walking through the old city after diving from the 27 metre platform during the first competition day of the fifth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy on September 21, 2021. Photo Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool.
If you are in Polignano a Mare this week be prepared for the informal dress code of some visitors wondering around the old town. It tells us the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is back in town.
A summer in the beautiful Puglia town of Polignano a Mare isn’t complete without a visit from the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. In nine previous stops here in 11 years, the spectacle never fails to bring out the locals and tourists in huge numbers, surrounding the take-off spot on land and water.
The unusual route to the platforms never loses its charm, with divers emerging from the water, negotiating a crowded beach, walking barefoot through a bustling old town, then arriving, via a private living room, at the platforms mounted on a rooftop terrace.
Alessandro De Rose of Italy walks back through the old city after diving from the 27 metre platform during the first competition day of the fifth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy on September 21, 2021. Photo Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool.
Taking place this Sunday 18 September at 14.00 local time this is the penultimate stop of the 2022 season. Twenty-four of the world's best cliff divers will leap into the Adriatic Sea in a bid to gain crucial championship points ahead of the grand finale in Sydney next month.
Maria Paula Quintero (L) of Colombia and Iris Schmidbauer of Germany react while walking through the old city after diving from the 21 metre platform during the first competition day of the fifth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy on September 21, 2021. Photo Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool.
More | the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series comes to town | visit the Red Bull Cliff Diving 2022 Series official site | if you are coming to watch the diving read our guide to Polignano a Mare, what else to see and where to eat.
Polignano a Mare | Cliff Diving’s Coming Home
We last saw the Red Bull cliff divers last year for the penultimate and final competitions of the 2021 World Series.
Blake Aldridge, Owen Weymouth and Aidan Heslop all represented the UK in the 2021 Red Bull Cliff Diving Series. The 2021 final at Polignano a Mare, Puglia. Photo the Puglia Guys for The Big Gay Podcast from Puglia.
Winner of the 2021 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Australia's Rhiannan Iffland is a dominant force from the 21m platform.
Andy Jones and David Colturi from Team USA in Polignano a Mare
Romania’s Constantin Popovici on the podium in 2021
Nine-time Red Bull Cliff Diving World Champion Gary Hunt now dives for France.
Seven stops from the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 11 years have helped rubber stamp Polignano’s reputation as the sport's European home.
The main spectacle is of course the diving but second and third places belong to the views of spectators surrounding the take-off spot on land and water and the unique route to the platforms.
Divers emerge from the water, negotiate a crowded beach and walk barefoot through Polignano’s bustling old town before finally, via a private living room, arriving at the platforms mounted on a rooftop terrace at 27 and 21 metres above the sea.
Where | Lama Monachile beach, Polignano a Mare
When | Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 September 12:15 - 15:00 (penultimate stage) | Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September 12:15 - 15:00 (final stage).
