Cisternino is a wonderful town in the Itria Valley, in Puglia. A place linked to its origins and traditions , especially the food and wine one! The village is in fact known for its famous bowler hats and gnummarieddhu, roulades of lamb entrails cooked on the grill. Not far away you will find places such as Locorotondo and Alberobello!
Here are all our tips on what to see in Cisternino !
10 things to see in Cisternino and surroundings
1 – Historic center and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele
Cisternino is one of the most fascinating villages in the Itria Valleyand its historic center is a real treasure chest. It can be easily navigated on foot, given its small size. It is characterized by the white color of its houses and buildings , which contrasts with the green of the surrounding countryside, full of centuries-old olive trees. It almost seems to go back in time, in a charming and relaxed atmosphere.
Heart of the historic center and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, one of the symbolic places of the village . It is a meeting place, both for tourists and for the Apulians, surrounded by clubs and restaurants of typical cuisine. The perfect starting point to discover all of Cisternino! The square is also called Piazza dell’Orologio, given the presence of the Clock Tower, built in 1850 on a project by the Curri masters of Alberobello using local stone. From the neoclassical style, today this tower is its own landmark. Impossible not to take a souvenir photo here!
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (600 m, 9 min) and from the Lagravinese Palace (190 m, 2 min) – Get directions
2 – Norman Swabian
Tower The Norman Swabian civic tower is one of the symbols of Cisternino . It is located along via San Quirico, in front of a small square from which you can also admire a splendid view of the surroundings.
It is also called Torre Grande, as it was the largest and most important of all the walls, built for defensive purposes, 18 m high with a base of 8 x 10 m. The first building probably dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries, but was later enlarged and
refurbished due to stability problems in the 14th century. min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (95 m, 1 min) – Get directions
3 – Church of San Nicola di Patara
The Church of San Nicola di Patara is the main and most beautiful church in Cisternino . It overlooks Piazza Garibaldi, an important town square that also hosts other attractions, such as the Maaac Museum and, a few steps away, the Norman Swabian Tower. It is a real meeting point.
The Church of San Nicola di Patara that we can see today is not the original one: the first was in fact in medieval style, while today it has a neoclassical facade, built in 1848. But the real beauty is found inside: here in fact, the most important sculpture of the Apulian Renaissance is kept ! It is the Madonna with Child and Offerers, also known as “Madonna del Cardellino”, made in 1517.
- How to get there: in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. It is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (700 m, 10 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (85 m, 1 min) – Get directions
- Hours: every day 7: 00-20: 00
- Ticket cost: free
4 – Maaac Museum
Recently, in the complex of the Church of San Nicola di Patara and the Norman Swabian Tower, an area used as a museum, the Maac, acronym that stands for Archaeological Area of ​​Contemporary Art of Cisternino has been opened . It is a small exhibition area that is absolutely worth a visit.
This museum hosts several temporary exhibitions and events focusing on art each year , with different exponents and artists, showcasing their talents. If there is any exhibition during the period in which you visit the village, we recommend that you take the opportunity to organize a visit, especially if you are an art lover.
- How to get there: in Piazza Garibaldi. It is easily reachable on foot from the municipal parking (800 m, 11 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (100 m, 1 min) – Get directions
- Hours: Tue-Sun 11: 00-13: 00 and 18: 00-22: 00, closed Mon
- Ticket cost: free
5 – Church of San Quirico Martire
The history of the Church of San Quirico Martire is linked to a legend : in the seventeenth century the plague spread in Puglia and, right where the church stands today, San Quirico appeared, free from this terrible disease. The Church was built to pay homage to the Saint.
Built in the early 1600s, it originally had a simple rectangular shape and the exterior was also very simple and linear. Today the Church has a beautiful rose window on the facade and an entrance with a protruding triangular tympanum, where there is a statue of San Quirico. The interior, on the other hand, has a single nave.
- How to get there: in via San Quirico. It is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (550 m, 8 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (350 m, 4 min) – Get directions
- Hours: open only on Sundays
- Ticket cost: free
6 – Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli
Another church that absolutely deserves a short visit is the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, located just outside the city walls of the historic center . Also known as the Church of Sant’Agata, with the Bourbon decree dated 1840 it became the cemetery of the city .
It is a place with a great scenic effect : the churchyard is in fact surrounded by walls, creating a unique atmosphere. Inside the baroque main altar and the altarpiece are still visible today, where it is possible to see Sant’Anna with the virgin Child. The fresco that can be admired is in late Renaissance style and depicts the Santa Maria di Costantinopoli surrounded by other saints.
The Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli is located in via Martina Franca. It is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (1 km, 13 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (500 m, 6 min) – Get directions
7 – Palazzo Lagravinese
If you are a lover of art and history, in addition to the Maaac Museum, We also recommend that you plan a visit to Palazzo Lagravinese, considered the most representative building of the village . In an excellent position, between clubs and shops, it is one of the most important historical places in Cisternino.
It belonged to the Lagravinese-Termetrio family, hence the name, and a noble residence of the late eighteenth century, now used as a museum. It develops on two levels and with a loggia where there are two coats of arms with cartouche, one with the date of construction and one with decorations and details that can be traced back to the Masonic symbolism.
- How to get there: in Corso Umberto I 98. It is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (600 m, 9 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (190 m, 2 min) – Get directions
- Hours: based on exhibitions and displays
- Ticket cost: based on exhibitions and displays
8 – Ponte della Madonnina
Cisternino and immersed in a unique setting, that of the Itria Valley . So, near the historic center, it is possible to come across numerous panoramic points. One of the most beautiful is that of the Ponte della Madonnina, located along via San Quirico, not far from the Norman Swabian Tower.
This bridge hosts, on its highest point, the Chirico Bistrot, a place with a wonderful outdoor terrace ideal for an aperitif at sunset. And sunset is the best time to go to the bridge : on the horizon you can admire the wonder of the Itria Valley with the warm colors of the sun setting behind the hills. But that’s not all: this fascinating place is often the location of various initiatives: one year, during the program of the “Borgo che dondola”, a summer event of the municipality, the bridge was embellished with thirty-three hanging doilies, a unique spectacle.
The Ponte della Madonnina is located in via San Quirico. It is easily reachable on foot from the Municipal Parking (750 m, 11 min) and from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (150 m, 2 min) – Get directions
9 – Locorotondo
Cisternino is a very small town, which can be easily turned in half a day. . If you stop for two or three days, you can take advantage of discovering other villages in the Itria Valley ! One of these is definitely Locorotondo!
Locorotondo is a small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Puglia, which is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy! Here too, as in Cisternino, it seems that time has stopped! The historic center is a tangle of alleys and streets, framed by white buildings, in which to get lost among shops and clubs. Here too the main square and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and walking through the streets you can discover wonderful churches and palaces!
Located 9.2 km from Cisternino. Reachable by car via SS134 and SP11 (12 min) or by regional train from Cisternino to Martina Franca, then change to Locorotondo (30 min) – Get directions
10 – Alberobello
Not only Locorotondo: another village to visit absolutely if you find yourself in the Itria Valley and Alberobello, known for its spectacular trulli and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Easily reachable from Cisternino, the best way to enjoy it to the fullest is to take a walk in the Hague district , where there are about 400 trulli, a real show that will captivate even the little ones! Admire the sunset from the Belvedere di Santa Lucia, which offers a splendid view of the historic center, and take the opportunity to taste some typical products of the area!
Located 18 km from Cisternino. Reachable by car via SS172 (20 min) or by direct bus from Cisternino to Alberobello (40 min, 3 stops) – Get directions
What to see in Cisternino in one day: recommended itinerary
Photo by Marcolino99. Start this day in Cisternino having breakfast at Bar FOD Pastry and Artisan Gelato, with excellent coffees and sweets of the Apulian tradition. Here you will find yourself in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele , the heart of the historic center. From here, make the first stop at Palazzo Lagravinese , finally reach Piazza Garibaldi where you can visit the Church of San Nicola di Patara , the Maaac Museum and where you can admire the Norman Swabian Tower from the outside .
For lunch, go back to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele where you can have lunch at Zio Pietro’s, with excellent meat dishes, including the famous meatballs. We recommend that you spend the afternoon visiting another village in the Itria Valley, such as Locorotondo or Alberobello. For the evening you can stop in one of the two villages, or, if you are staying in Cisternino, you could return in time to admire the sunset from the Ponte della Madonnina and then have dinner at the typical Taverna della Torre restaurant.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at Bar FOD Pastry and artisan ice cream parlor (Get directions)
- Vittorio Emanuele square
- Palazzo Lagravinese – opening hours: based on exhibitions and events – ticket price: based on exhibitions and events
- Church of San Nicola di Patara – opening hours: every day 7: 00-20: 00 – ticket price: free
- Maaac Museum – opening hours: Tue-Sun 11: 00-13: 00 and 18: 00-22: 00, Mon closed – free ticket cost
- Norman Swabian Tower
- Lunch at Zio Pietro (Get directions)
- Locorotondo or Alberobello
- Ponte della Madonnina
- Dinner at Taverna della Torre (Get directions)
Where to eat in Cisternino: the best restaurants
- Zio Pietro : informal place, with attached butcher shop, specialized in grilled meat
Average price per person: € 15.00
Address and contacts: via Duca D’Aosta, 3 (Get directions) / tel: +39 0804448300 - Taverna della Torre : restaurant with an informal atmosphere with traditional Apulian dishes
Average price per person: € 20.00
Address and contacts: via San Quirico, 3 (Get directions) / tel: +39 0804449264 - Vattelappesca Restaurant & Wine : restaurant specializing in fish dishes, with always fresh fish, and excellent wine pairings
Average price per person: € 30.00
Address and contacts: via San Quirico, 41 (Get directions) / tel: +39 0804448624
What to do in the evening: the nightlife areas and the best clubs in Cisternino
Cisternino is the most evocative and animated village in the Itria Valley . One of the centers of evening life is certainly the square in the historic center, frequented by both young people and artists and, since the end of the 90s, it is the location of many musical and artistic events! The center is full of clubs and bars in which to spend the evening , as well as wine bars and small clubs for those who opt for something more intimate and quiet.
The best pubs, clubs and discos
- Oltremura : lounge with terrace overlooking the Itria Valley, also very popular with young people / Address: Vico Remo, 8 (Get directions) / Facebook page
- Cremeria History Vignola : bar with outdoor terrace with a view, open from breakfast until midnight, excellent drinks / Address: via San Quirico, 28 (Get directions) / Facebook page
- Pharmacy Bar : lounge bar with excellent cocktails and a wide selection of spirits, including a gin made from its own production / Address: Via San Quirico, 51 / a (Get directions / Facebook page
Plan your stay in Cisternino: info and useful tips
- How to get there: from Bari, by car via SS16 (74 km, 1 h) or by bus to Putignano, then change for Cisternino (2 h 40 min). From Brindisi, by car via SS379 (65 km, 50 min) or by direct train to Francavilla Fontana, then direct bus to Cisternino (1 h 30 min). From Polignano a Mare, by car via SS16 (40 km, 30 min)
- How to get around : on foot in the historic center, the attractions are close together. Nearby by car or with the urban and extra-urban bus service
- Where to park : near the historic center Parking via Calavilonna (open 24h, free – Get directions) or Municipal Parking (open 24h, free – Get directions)
- Where to sleep: compare the best accommodations on Booking.com
- What to see in the surrounding area : Martina Franca (11 km), Zoosafari Fasano (15 km), Ostuni (15 km), Locorotondo (17 km), Alberobello (18 km), Rosa Marina (18 km), Carovigno (26 km)
