Cisternino

Travel Guide

Brindisi featuring street scenes
Brindisi showing a house
Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi showing a house
Explore an ancient town in southern Italy that is filled with such historical treasures as churches and Baroque buildings that are hundreds of years old.

The hilltop town of Cisternino has a gorgeous setting on a section of the Murge Plateau. Ancient churches, historical buildings and whitewashed homes line streets that are approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters) above sea level. Tour centuries-old palaces and churches, explore the surrounding countryside and savor a meal prepared by one of the town's barbecuing butchers.

One of the first ports of call for many visitors is Cisternino's old town center. Amble along narrow, shaded streets past whitewashed homes adorned with flower boxes of geraniums and bougainvillea. See the Governor’s Palace, a beautiful Baroque building from the 16th century. Study the elegant façade of the Bishop’s Palace, another building from the 16th century. One of its standout features is the partially damaged coat of arms of the bishop who ordered the construction of the palace.

Find your way to the main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, for its 19th-century clock tower. Other structures of architectural interest include the Norman-Swabian Tower, once part of the town's old defensive walls.

In common with many rural Italian towns and villages, Cisternino has a collection of old churches that are ripe for exploring. Visit the Church of St. Lucia, a one-room building from the 17th century. View the old frescoes in the 16th-century Church of Sant'Antonio. Step inside the Mother Church of St. Nicholas from Patara, a 15th-century church with numerous artistic treasures. Among them is a wooden statue of St. Nicholas, positioned on the High Altar.

When it comes to eating out, the town has plenty of fine dining and casual options, although you don't need a restaurant to eat well. Cisternino is known for its butchers who will grill your meat and serve it to your table in their shops or out on the street.

Reach Cisternino by flying into BariOpens in a new window and BrindisiOpens in a new window, both of which are about a 1-hour drive away. During your stay in the town, make the most of the beautiful natural surroundings by taking excursions out into the countryside and along the coast. Hike through fields and forests and enjoy the beaches.

Where to stay in Cisternino

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Old Town Cisternino

You'll enjoy the monuments and historic sites in Old Town Cisternino. You might want to make time for a stop at Bishop's Palace or Norman Swabian Tower.

Old Town Cisternino
Borgo Canonica
Borgo Canonica
4 out of 5
Contrada Minetta, 20, Cisternino, BR
The price is NT$6,041 per night from May 2 to May 3
NT$6,041
NT$6,793 total
includes taxes & fees
May 2 - May 3
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cisternino. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Mary Immaculate Ecclesiastical ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (122 reviews)
"Amazing experience in a wonderful 200-year-old property Fantastic staff and a great restaurant on site"

Reviewed on 2025/4/22

Borgo Canonica
Hotel Lo Smeraldo
Hotel Lo Smeraldo
4 out of 5
Contrada Don Peppe Sole, 22, Cisternino, BR
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Cisternino. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and room service. Popular attractions EuroSport Casalini 2001 and Enoteca Semeraro ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (31 reviews)
"Great hotel for family as well as couples, so relaxing and loved the views."

Reviewed on 2024/8/15

Hotel Lo Smeraldo
Relais Masseria Villa Cenci
Relais Masseria Villa Cenci
4 out of 5
Strada Provinciale Per Ceglie Messapica, Cisternino, BR
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Cisternino. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Church of San Nicola Patara and Norman Swabian ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (16 reviews)
"Great location among the olive groves just outside Cisternino. Short drives to the local tourist hotspots in Valle d’Itria. Very nice and extensive property. Excellent restaurant. Rooms are a bit sparse."

Reviewed on 2022/10/3

Relais Masseria Villa Cenci
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
3275 Villa Terranea by Perle di Puglia
3275 Villa Terranea by Perle di Puglia
contrada Pico, 18, Cisternino, BR
Stay at this villa in Cisternino. Enjoy free parking, satellite TV channels, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Church of San Nicola Patara and ...
3275 Villa Terranea by Perle di Puglia
Borgo Santa Clara by Wonderful Italy
Borgo Santa Clara by Wonderful Italy
Contrada Cozze 45, Cisternino, BR
Stay at this apartment in Cisternino. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and patios. Popular attractions Church of San Nicola Patara and Bishop's Palace are located ...
8/10 Very Good! (4 reviews)
Beautiful Apartment - Terrible Check-In
"Beautiful apartment. Terrible check-in procedure. Online app that the location sent me to use to check in did not work correctly. Both phone numbers I was given to call for check-in did not work. I sat outside the place for almost 45 minutes. Finally had to go through the neighbors yard to get into ..."

Reviewed on 2024/7/8

Borgo Santa Clara by Wonderful Italy
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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