A Short Guide to Locorotondo | Puglia's Prettiest Little Town

italyeurope

12 Jul

Written By Emily

Looking for things to do in Locorotondo, where to stay, how to get there - or just trying to work out whether it's somewhere you'd like to visit on your Puglia road trip? Then our short guide to Locorotondo should have you covered.

Fully updated in August 2024

Away from the aquamarine waters of the Mediterranean and the cute seaside towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, there lies a stunning green expanse of countryside known as Valle d'Itria. Dotted with iconic whitewashed trulli and abundant olive groves, its narrow winding lanes lead from one pretty little village to the next; there is however one in particular that we implore you to visit.

Locorotondo.

A name that flows from our lips in the most wonderful of ways, and a delightful place truly deserving of the acolade 'Borghi più belli d'Italia' (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy).

Why You Should Visit Locorotondo

For the flâneurs amongst us, the most fabulous thing about Locorotondo is the lack of determinable tourist attractions. This is a town to simply get lost in for a few hours. To leave the new town and enter the old, to wander tiny streets, to sit in the sun and sink a couple of aperol spritz, perhaps peruse one of the of many beautiful ateliers or dine fuori at one of the impossibly cute side-streets restaurants , but mostly, to just enjoy.

We visited countless villages, towns and cities during our time in Puglia, but this particular place perched upon a hill, may just have been the most beautiful of them all. And in a region as spectacular as Puglia, that should be reason enough to visit - even if it's only for a few hours.

Things To Do In Locorotondo

Leaving our rental car parked in the shade of a waxy palm, we slowly made our way from the newer (but equally beautiful) part of the town, and into the centro storico. Here amongst a maze of whitewashed lanes, crumbling facades and grand baroque archways, we explored for hours.

As we mentioned earlier, this is exactly the reason that you come to Locorotondo, but for those that like to have a few things to cross of their list, here are a few suggestions.

The Views from the Lungomare | Being perched atop a big hill, Locorotondo is a fantastic place from which to survey the spectacular countryside around. Whilst views can be garnered from many spots in the city, for the very best vistas head to the limit of this hill-top town (easy to find in the small centro storico) and the small street that encircles its highest point. Known somewhat confusingly as the ‘lungomare’, despite being quite some distance from the sea, this route offers spectacular panoramic views of the valley below, with vineyards, olive groves, an trulli.

Be sure to pop into the 19th century gardens (Villa Comunale) on your way around, especially if visiting in the summer when you may well be thankful for a bit of shade! Find it here on Google Maps.

Photography | The narrow streets that lead east from the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele were, at least during our visit, home to a captivating open air photography exhibit, with images old and new depicting life in this small town. If it's still there, we certainly suggest you make a bee-line for it. The tourist office in the Piazza has more information on the area.

Explore the Churches | Even the smallest town in Italy will have several ageing Catholic churches - and Locorotondo is no different. Undeniably beautiful as they are imposing, they're usually worth at least popping your head into. Chiesa Madre di San Giorgio (maps), Santuario di San Rocco (maps) and the attractive Romanesque Chiesa della Madonna della Greca (maps) are the three most impressive in town.

Please note that opening times can be a little variable, so for greatest chance of finding them open, we'd recommend visiting in the early morning (these are also still working churches, so be mindful of services).

Wine Tasting | Locorotondo's sparkling white wine - Bianco Locorotondo DOC - is famous in Italy, and is available in many restaurants throughout the region of Puglia. Up until relatively recently you used to be able to head straight to the source and visit the headquarters of the main wine producer Cantina Sociale del Locorotondo but this has unfortunately closed down now.

A couple of highly rated places include Pavì wine restaurant (which also has a lovely terrace overlooking the Val d’Itria - find it here), La Bottega de I Pastini (maps), and Vinifera vini & affini (maps).

Should you have any great wine tasting experiences in Locorotondo we’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Visit During a Festival | Join in the festivities on one of two patron saint days. Opt for a grand market fair for San Giorgio on the 22nd and 23rd of April or music and fireworks for San Rocco on 16th August.

A Walking Tour | We cannot source a group walking tour for Locorotondo specifically but if you’d got the budget and would prefer a more intimate experience, consider joining up with a private guide for a 2 hour walking tour.

Alternatively, you could consider this four hour tour which combines Alberobello and Locorotondo (departing from Alberobello).

Restaurant Tip // If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a slow lunch, consider the excellent Osteria Il Rosone (maps). The interiors are beautiful, the food excellent, with a menu that’s bursting with Puglian produce and dishes - some traditional, some inspired.

Where To Stay In Locorotondo

As the popularity of Puglia as a holiday destination amongst foreign travellers has increased, so too have the prices of accommodation.

The good news is that Locorotondo is still really quite affordable which is ideal given it’s an ideal base from which to discover the Val d’Itria and hotspots like Alberobello.

Apartments In Locorotondo

There is a relatively large number of airbnbs and apartments considering the size of Alberobello; these are our top picks:

Ughetto | If we were heading back to Locorotondo, this is the place we’d book in a heartbeat! A traditional one-bed property in the heart of the old town, but with a stylish and contemporary makeover - it’s just gorgeous!

Bel Panorama | Another traditional apartment that has been pleasantly modernised, but offering two bedrooms as well as a small balcony over looking the lungomare and providing incredible views with your morning cup of coffee (or early evening wine!).

Trulli Nannì | If your dream is to stay in a trulli, then this one located in countryside (but only a short distance from the centre of Locorotondo) is a fabulous option. Set within olive groves, the interiors are beautiful and guests even have access to a jacuzzi!

Central Apartment | If you’re a family looking for a little more space, consider this modern three-bedroom aparmtnet a couple of minutes walk form the old town. It also has parking.

Dimora Palmisan | This one-bedroom apartment is a bit of a wildcard, as it doesn’t have many reviews yet, but there’s something about the embracement of vintage pieces and traditional design, with wonderful outdoor space that meant we just had to include it.

Other Airbnbs to consider include Palazzo Gentile, Casa Centro Storico, Umberto’s Roof, Casa Lina and Le Tre Chiese.

If you're looking for an apartment but would prefer to book through a traditional site, booking.com has a whole bunch of them too.

Hotels / B&Bs In Locorotondo

Hotels, in the traditional sense, don't really exist in Locorotondo, so the below selection includes B&Bs and small trulli (some with self-catering facilities) that will also provide breakfast - ideal if you're only in town for a night or two.

Da Concavo e Convesso | A beautiful old B&B in the centre of the old town, it has been lovingly restored and is now run by a local family. Francesco speaks perfect English and his 'mama' is always on hand to provide freshly made Italian treats. A great choice.

Domus San Giovanni | This super popular B&B offers comfortable, stylishly furnished and modern rooms with excellent reviews. They even have a couple of apartments if you’d like a kitchenette.

B&B Lamie Di Olimpia | Located a little out of town (around a 10 minute walk), this modernised traditional trullo is great for those without a car but wanting a countryside trulli experience. Run by the most helpful of chaps, guests have only good things to say about their experience here.

If you don’t mind being a short distance from the centre of Locorotondo and you’re looking for somewhere a little extra special, you simply have to check out Ottolire Resort.

How To Get To Locorotondo

Both times we’ve visited Locorotondo, we’ve done so as part of a large road trip (this was our itinerary for that first Puglia road trip), and highly recommend this as the best way to discover the region.

Car rental is available at Bari and Brindisi airports via Auto Europe or RentalCars, and we recommend you read our road trip and driving advice for Puglia before setting off.

Parking | As with many small Italian towns, finding a parking spot in Locorotondo can be a little tricky. Certainly, there is plenty of street parking, however finding a free spot is challenging. Unless you are arriving super early or travelling during low season, we'd recommend you park in one of the larger parking lots a little outside the old town.

By Tour | There are now plenty of tours from popular cities and towns all over Puglia that visit Locorotondo as part of a tour:

· Ostuni / Visit Alberobello, Locorotondo (and have brunch there plus and olive oil tasting), before returning to Ostuni for a guided tour.

· Brindisi / Visit Alberobello (plus enjoy a local food tasting), then Locorotondo before continuing on to Ostuni. A guided tour but with free time also.

· Lecce / This is a driver-only tour with free time in Alberobello, Locorotondo, & Ostuni (plus a food tasting and aperitif).

Locorotondo by Train | There are currently no direct trains from Bari to Locorotondo. Instead you will need to take a bus to Putignano and then transfer to a train. This makes what is actually a realtviely manageable distance into quite an epic journey for a day trip!

There are however regular, quick trains to an from other touristic towns and villages in the Valle d'Itria, including Alberobello and Martina Franca.

Alberobello station is located a short walk from the centro storico, here on google maps.

Do note that on Sundays, the train is replaced with a bus.

Locorotondo by Bus | From Bari, there is a direct bus to Locorotondo that takes 1 hour and 20 minutes and costs around €5 per person. Do note that the buses do not leave from the centre of Bari, rather a station on the outskirts of the old town.

To book train tickets in Puglia we recommend Trenitalia or, if you prefer an app, Omio which provides buses and train times across Europe.