Cisternino is a charming village located in the Itria Valley in Puglia, rich in history, art and typical architecture.
History
The territory of Cisternino has very ancient origins, with prehistoric settlements from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic. The village grew up around a hamlet called San Nicolò cis-Sturninum, first mentioned in a papal bull in 1180. Over the centuries, Cisternino has been under the control of the bishops of Monopoli, Monopolitan nobles and then Venetians and Spaniards, with many historical vicissitudes such as struggles between Greek and Latin rite churches and periods of fiscal oppression. Around the 14th century, defensive walls with cylindrical and square towers were built to protect the village.
Art and Monuments
The most important artistic symbol is the Mother Church of San Nicola, of Romanesque origin but rebuilt in the 16th century, which houses works of great value such as the Madonna and Child carved in stone in 1517 by Stefano di Putignano, considered a Renaissance masterpiece. Inside, there are also statues, frescoes, a 16th-century baptismal font and an ancient organ. Other notable churches are the Baroque ones of San Quirico, San Cataldo and the small Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Bernis outside the village.
Architecturally, to be seen are:
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the heart of the village, with the Clock Tower and the quadrangular tower built in the Norman-Swabian era as a strategic lookout point.
Torre Normanna or Torre di Porta Grande, a 17-metre high bastion with a small statue at the top.
Monuments dedicated to the fallen of the wars in Piazza Garibaldi.
What to see and do
Stroll through the historical centre with its cobbled streets and typical white houses, exploring the four main districts.
Admire works of art and historical monuments such as towers and churches.
Enjoy the local cuisine, famous for its typical dishes such as bombette, in traditional trattorias.
Attend local festivals such as the Sagra delle Orecchiette e del Coniglietto in August and the Sagra dell'Uva in September, which enliven the village with food and wine traditions.
Cisternino is perfect for those who love history, art, good food and authentic Apulian villages, offering a complete cultural and sensorial experience.
How to get to Cisternino and local transport options
To get to Cisternino, the most convenient and fastest solution is to use the car, with a journey time of about 1 hour and 17 minutes from Bari, following the SS16 and then the SS379. This allows you to reach the village directly while enjoying the landscape and with total autonomy.
If you do not have a car, you can travel by public transport, although there is no easy direct connection:
By train, take a train from Bari Centrale to Fasano (about 1 hour), then from Fasano take a train or local bus to Cisternino.
By bus, there are no direct routes from Bari to Cisternino; it is necessary to make changes in Fasano or Ceglie Messapica, using companies such as Flixbus, MarinoBus or Miccolis. The bus journey with changes can take about 2 hours and 30 minutes or more.
From Alberobello, which is very close, there are direct buses that take about 20-30 minutes to reach Cisternino, with cheap prices around 3 euro.
Getting around Cisternino is easy on foot, as the historic centre is pedestrianised and well organised. In summer, there are local tourist shuttles that connect the station to the historic centre. It is also possible to book taxis or NCC services for more personalised trips around the area, especially to locations outside the centre or for larger groups.
In summary, the best way to get to and around Cisternino depends on one's willingness to use a car. Without a car, you have to plan some changes and transfers by train and bus, or use taxis and local shuttles to complete the route.
Where to park in Cisternino
In Cisternino there are both free and paid parking spaces, with several options for visiting the historic centre comfortably.
Free parking spaces
The largest and most convenient free car park is in Via Francesco Clarizia, with about 100 parking spaces, located about 400 metres from the city centre. There is also a water loading and unloading area here, much used by campers. The access is partly steep, but the parking area is wide and flat. Some visitors have reported some evening noise from young motorcyclists but it remains quiet most of the time.
Other free car parks can be found in Via Ostuni (about 60 places, near the cemetery), Largo Fedele (30 places), Via Calavilonna (20 places), Via Valle d'Itria - Miravalle (30 places) and Via Monte la Croce (60 places).
Paying car parks
Several pay car parks are available, especially along the access roads to the historical centre, for example in Via Martina Franca, where there are pay parking spaces with herringbone parking on the roadside, near the “Villa Comunale” garden.
Blue stripes indicate paid parking areas in the village.
The pay car parks are useful for those who want to leave their car closer to the historical centre without having to walk from the free car parks further out.
Advice for the visitor
The historic centre of Cisternino is pedestrianised: it is advisable to park in one of the large outdoor car parks and walk to the village in a few minutes.
During peak tourist periods, it is a good idea to arrive early to find space in the free car parks.
For those arriving with camper vans or larger vehicles, the car park in Via Francesco Clarizia is the best choice thanks to the motor home service area.
In summary, in Cisternino there are convenient large free car parks, with some paid options closer to the centre, and a visit to the village is always pleasantly done on foot.