Cisternino and the Valle d'Itria

Cisternino is a charming and neat hill town (394 m above sea level), superbly overlooking the so-called Murgia dei Trulli and is part of the I Borghi più belli d’Italia. The historic center is surrounded by the urban ring and is an authentic monument of spontaneous architecture, which winds along Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau palaces, to open up to the whole of the territory that, almost city-garden, is densely populated in the myriad of trulli, farms, farmhouses and villas.

Situated on one of the highest hills of the southern Murgia, Cisternino dominates the entire Valle d'Itria, immersed in the green of the olive trees among trulli and farms that paint a surreal landscape. It is distinguished by the easy accessibility and the good management of the internal road that allows the visit on foot of the picturesque old town that shines with the bright colors of flowers and plants hanging from each loggia and window. Here you can breathe a welcoming atmosphere imbued with Mediterranean scents and colors. In the historic center, characterized by spontaneous architecture with narrow streets, arches, spars, stairways, balconies that have remained intact over time, it is possible to admire the historic houses such as Palazzo del Governatore, an extraordinary example of Apulian baroque, Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo Amati, Palazzo Lagravinese, Palazzo Ricci-Capece and the Torre del Vento.

Excellent is the offer of typical food products as typical are the butchers with the famous fornelli pronti that prepare and roast delicious dishes based on meat from animals raised in the area, chosen directly by customers and to be consumed on the spot. Typical dish of Cisternino are the gnummarieddi, rolls of animal entrails cooked on the grill, in addition, in Cisternino each district has its typical festival: contrada Caranna the one of the orecchiette in August, contrada Casalini the one of the grapes in September, contrada Marinelli the one of the gnummarieddi and sausage and contrada Sisto the one of the polpette and braciole.