Cisternino

History and Sights of Cisternino

Cisternino is perched on a hilltop overlooking the surrounding Murge and Itria Valley. Although it is known the area was populated from the Paleolithic Period, the origins of the town are considered to date back to the 10th century.

The first building you see as you enter the old town centre from the gardens of the Villa Communale (which has superb views over the Itria Valley) is the Torre Grande, dating from the time of Norman domination. The nearby church Chiesa Madre is of Apulian Romanesque style and was built in the 13th century, but only the internal capitals and columns remain as the facade was rebuilt in the 19th century. A recent discovery under the present building was the remains of an earlier church which has been dated at around 1000.

Cisternino changed hands several times from the eleventh to the 15th century. Its old defensive walls, although transformed, are still preserved in the boundary of the medieval quarter and the towers Torre Amati and Torre Capece. The two main gates, the Porta Grande on the south-west and the Porta Piccola, to the north-east, remain as the main entrances to the Centro Storico.

Two hundred years of Spanish rule have left some Renaissance Palazzos, and later buildings are found in Baroque style, particularly the Church S. Cataldo, and Neoclassical style.

Cisternino has a vibrant open-air cafe nightlife in the summer, and like other towns in the area has a wide variety of summer events and festivals.