Piazze d'Estate

A widespread summer in the heart of the Murgia

Piazze d'Estate is the most anticipated summer festival in Castellana Grotte, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari known worldwide for its spectacular Grotte di Castellana. Organized by the Municipality of Castellana Grotte in partnership with Grotte di Castellana srl, the festival is not just a single event but an entire widespread program that, from June to September, offers over one hundred free appointments, enlivening the squares and iconic landmarks of the historic center.

Squares as a stage

The format was born from the idea of giving the squares back to the community and visitors, transforming them into spaces for meeting and entertainment. Events are spread across several historic locations in the city:

• Largo Porta Grande, the heart of the major concerts
• Piazza Garibaldi, home to the Piazze d'Autore section
• Piazza Nicola e Costa and Largo San Leone Magno
• Villa Comunale Tacconi, with dance evenings and open-air events

Festival sections

The program is divided into several thematic series covering all performing arts. Festivarts offers conversations with key figures in cinema, culture, and current affairs; the Grandi Concerti (Major Concerts) feature top names in Italian music; Piazze d'Autore combines comedy, theater, and singer-songwriter performances. These are complemented by the open-air cinema of Educare lo Sguardo, the Dance Festival with the World Dance Movement, the sports events of Urban Sport Lab, the Vieni a Ballare in Villa evenings, and numerous initiatives dedicated to families, folk traditions, and Apulian food and wine.

A summer for everyone

The winning formula of Piazze d'Estate is its popular and inclusive nature: almost all events are free of charge, with the only option to book numbered seats for major concerts via the TicketOne circuit. It is an ideal opportunity to discover Castellana Grotte during the summer season, combining a visit to the famous caves with the pleasure of an evening of entertainment under the Puglia sky.