A Tour of Puglia’s Charming Hillside Town of Locorotondo
EXPLORING LOCOROTONDO
Only an hour drive from Bari and nestled in between Matera, Monopoli and Ostuni in the Valle d’Itria, Locorotondo, Italy is the perfect pit stop on your Puglian adventure. Known as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, you won’t be disappointed spending a quite afternoon in this hillside village.
Most visitors to Puglia fly into Bari Airport (BRI) and if you’re headed down the coast towards the heel of the boot, Locorotondo is a natural stop about an hour away from Bari and at the midway point to Lecce. Locorotondo is the first pit stop on our guide, 14 Days in Italy Itinerary: Puglia, Rome + the Island of Ponza, so check out that post if you’re traveling there.
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As you approach Locorotondo, you will see it looming whitewashed and regal up on a hilltop. The historic center is where you will want to spend your time so keep driving up the hill until you reach the old town gates. No motorized vehicles are allowed inside of the historic center so park and explore by foot.
The cobbled streets twist and wind as visitors amble leisurely and kids playing soccer dart in and out of sight through narrow walkways. The town’s layout is circular so if you find yourself at the edge of the city, simply turn around and pick a different path.
You’ll encounter local artisan shops, potted plants on every windowsill and stoop, and the unassuming Chiesa Madre San Giorgio church in the center of town, also known as the centro storico.
Locorotondo is know for it’s white wine (you can see sweeping views of the vineyards for miles from their main park) and has a handful of tasting rooms and restaurants in and around the historic center, but beware many are not open for lunch in this sleepy town.
Best Restaurants in Locorotondo
La Greppia del Frate may be one of the best meals you have in Puglia; two pastas, a bottle of wine and some espresso and you’ll be happy as a clam
Pizzeria Casa Pinto is an unassuming and delightful pizzeria
Ai Tre Santi offers fine dining in a charming alley
Bina Ristorante has a great wine list and modern takes on traditional Puglian dishes
Best Wine Tasting in Locorotondo
Cantina Mir is a tasting room on the perimeter of old town with tastings and yummy bites
I Pastini is a winery just outside of Locorotondo and on the way to Martina Franca (easy pit stop if you’re planning to visit there as well)
Sírose serves tastings on outdoor picnic tables set on its farm
Something that you will realize as you explore Puglia is that in most towns, you won’t have a long lists of specific “stuff” to see. The bigger towns will have a few historic sites you can visit but the beauty of Puglia is that you’re there to experience lo struscio, the art of slow living in Italy.
This is part of what makes a little town like Locorotondo so enchanting; you won’t feel the need to rush around, ticking things off your list. You’ll have time to admire the plants and foliage placed with care on a local’s stoop, to sit on a park bench and watch the day pass or to stand at the counter of a tiny cafe to sip on an espresso and observe the locals gossip with the shopkeep.
