Cisternino Community Carnival

A carnival built by the community

The Cisternino Community Carnival is the most cherished winter event in the village of Cisternino, located in the province of Brindisi in the heart of the Apulian Valle d'Itria. Its defining feature is in the name: this carnival is not organized by a select few, but is born from the shared efforts of schools, associations, parishes, youth groups, and local citizens, all united under the CisterninoPartecipa! initiative and the Council of Associations. Each group hand-builds its own allegorical and whimsical float, creating a parade that winds through the white alleys and squares of the historic center.

The parade in the historic center

The heart of the festival is the masked parade that weaves through the iconic whitewashed alleys of the ancient village, one of the most beautiful in Puglia. Groups typically gather at the Don Bosco Salesian Institute, where the procession begins, led by marching bands. Alongside the main floats, anyone can participate by bringing a handmade or pedal-powered carnival cart, contributing to the atmosphere of shared joy. The parade involves both young and old, transforming the village into an open-air stage.

The Trial of Carnival

In keeping with Apulian folk tradition, the festivities conclude on Shrove Tuesday with the Trial of Carnival: a satirical theatrical performance where a Carnival effigy is put on trial, held responsible for the year's misfortunes, and ultimately sentenced. This event, usually held in the main square at dusk, is preceded by the awards ceremony for the most original floats and masked groups.

A festival for all ages

The Community Carnival dedicates plenty of space to children, with masked balls, workshops, entertainment shows, juggling, and side activities scattered throughout the village in the days leading up to the parade. The event is free and open to everyone, offering a chance to experience the identity of Cisternino and the Valle d'Itria in one of its most authentic and participatory forms.

Cisternino and the Valle d'Itria

Recognized as one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy,' Cisternino overlooks the Valle d'Itria with its historic center of white houses, arches, and stairways, just a few kilometers from the famous trulli area. The Carnival is one of the events that best captures the bond between the town and its inhabitants, in a region like Puglia where street festivals remain a living collective heritage.