Romantic Weekend in the Village
Cisternino, the Apulian capital of love for the summer solstice
About Romantic Weekend in the Village
Cisternino dresses in love
With the arrival of the summer solstice, the village of Cisternino, in the heart of the Itria Valley in the Province of Brindisi, becomes the Apulian capital of romance for three days. The Romantic Weekend in the Village is a widespread event that brings the lime-washed alleys, courtyards, and squares of the historic center to life with music, flavors, and culture, designed for couples but also for anyone wishing to rediscover the slow beauty of one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.
Three evenings, one story
The event revolves around three distinct yet complementary moments. It opens with the grand Romantic Banquet along Corso Umberto: a communal dinner under the stars where the best local restaurateurs and producers offer a food and wine journey dedicated to typical Apulian flavors, accompanied by live music and evocative decorations. The second evening coincides with the Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, the national initiative that lights up Italian villages every year on the shortest night of the year: in Cisternino, the traditional music of the Itria Valley and the Lower Murgia resonates simultaneously in multiple squares. The closing is entrusted to a cultural appointment, with a literary salon and an art exhibition, followed by a DJ set that keeps the party going until late at night.
A village that lights up
Throughout the event, the historic center is illuminated with lights and installations: local businesses offer themed menus, aperitifs, and experiences designed for couples, while a Romantic Path guides visitors through the most evocative corners of the village. The atmosphere is the intimate and cozy one typical of Cisternino, where trulli and white houses frame a weekend of emotions.
A community event
The event is organized by APS Pro Cisternino with the support of the Municipality of Cisternino and the patronage of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy circuit. The involvement of dozens of local businesses and associations makes the Romantic Weekend a choral project, capable of enhancing the identity of the Itria Valley and offering visitors an authentic image of inland Puglia.
Why visit
- Free admission to all initiatives
- Communal dinner with typical flavors of the Itria Valley
- Traditional music in the squares for the national Romantic Night
- One of the most beautiful villages in Italy illuminated for the occasion
Romantic Weekend in the Village — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Romantic Weekend in the Village took place in Cisternino from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, culminating on the day of the summer solstice. Three evenings brought the historic center of the Itria Valley village to life with a widespread program and free admission.
The Romantic Banquet on Corso Umberto opened the event with a communal dinner under the stars and a food and wine journey curated by local restaurateurs and producers. The second evening, dedicated to the Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, brought the traditional music of the Itria Valley and the Lower Murgia to Piazza Mazzini, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and Piazza Garibaldi. On Sunday, the Parlami d'Amore literary salon and an 80s-90s themed DJ set closed the festival.
The event was organized by APS Pro Cisternino with the support of the Municipality of Cisternino and the patronage of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.
Programme Romantic Weekend in the Village 2026
Friday, June 19
- Romantic Banquet on Corso Umberto: communal dinner under the stars with a food and wine journey by local restaurateurs and producers, live music, and evocative decorations. Recommended dress code: a touch of red. Reservation required, limited seating.
Saturday, June 20 — National Romantic Night
- Piazza Mazzini: concert by I Galletti della Valle d'Itria
- Piazza Vittorio Emanuele: Musicanti Itineranti della Bassa Murgia
- Piazza Garibaldi: I Musicisti della Valle d'Itria with guests Mariëtt and Rosëtt
Sunday, June 21 — Summer Solstice
- 7:30 PM, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III: Parlami d'Amore literary salon with book presentations by Alessandro Faino, Giovanna De Vita, Egidio Cipriano, Francesca Zizzi, and Rosa Elenia Stravato, with an art exhibition
- Following, Piazza Garibaldi: 80-90 Love DJ set with Rinaldo and Mirxo
Highlights Romantic Weekend in the Village 2026
- Communal banquet under the stars on Corso Umberto
- Romantic Night of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy with concerts in three squares
- Parlami d'Amore literary salon with five authors
- 80s-90s DJ set in Piazza Garibaldi
- Romantic Path and themed menus in the village shops
Prices Romantic Weekend in the Village 2026
Practical information — Romantic Weekend in the Village
How to get there
Cisternino is located in the Itria Valley, in the Province of Brindisi. By car, it can be reached via the SS16 or the SS172 dei Trulli; parking is recommended in areas outside the historic center, which is pedestrianized during the event. The Cisternino train station (Bari-Martina Franca-Taranto line of the Ferrovie del Sud Est) is a few kilometers from the center. The nearest airports are Brindisi-Casale and Bari-Palese.
Admission and reservations
Admission to concerts, the literary salon, and exhibitions is free. For the Friday Romantic Banquet, reservations are required (limited seating) via the APS Pro Cisternino website.
Information
Tourist Info Point at the Largo Nicola Amati Kiosk. Contact: [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Romantic Weekend in the Village
Centro storico di Cisternino
Corso Umberto I, 72014 Cisternino