What to Do in Locorotondo: A Local's Guide to Puglia's Prettiest Town

Start your visit in the whitewashed alleys of Locorotondo's compact centro storico, one of Italy's most beautiful villages.

• Compact circular layout perfect for strolling
• White buildings with distinct cummerse roofs
• Local shops and boutiques
• Fewer crowds than nearby towns

The heart of town is a round area of cobblestone streets and narrow white buildings. Look up for the typical cummerse roofs topped with chiancarelle limestone slabs. You can easily cover it in a few hours. Stop into VIDA Concept Store for curated homewares and accessories, or Vicious Store for clothing and vinyl. The entire area is a ZTL (restricted traffic zone), so the streets are quiet and meant for pedestrians.

Locorotondo sits high on a hill, and the best spot to take in the views is from the Belvedere and the Villa Comunale gardens.

• Sweeping views of the Valle d'Itria
• 19th-century public gardens for shade
• Connects to the Lungomare walking street
• Completely free to visit

Head through Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II to reach the Villa Comunale and the Belvedere viewpoint. The gardens date back to the mid-1800s and offer a shady break in the summer. The street running along the edge of town is called the Lungomare by locals, even though Locorotondo is landlocked. From here you can see vineyards, olive groves, and the occasional trullo stretching across the Itria Valley.

Locorotondo's main church occupies the highest point in town and is a must-see for its clean architecture and history.

• Highest point in the village
• Neoclassical and Baroque architecture
• Pastel-colored single-nave interior
• Dating back to the 12th century

The Chiesa Madre di San Giorgio, also known as the Church of Saint George Martyr, was built in its current form in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Its religious heritage on this site reaches back to the 12th century. It is worth stepping inside to see the pastel interior with its single-nave design. Since the church is still active for regular mass, the visiting hours can vary. For another historic church, consider the Chiesa Rettoria Madonna della Greca on the edge of the centro storico.

This building stands out for its grand Baroque facade, a contrast to the modest domestic architecture of the old town.

• 18th-century Baroque architecture
• Ornate decorative facade
• Once belonged to the Morelli family
• One of the few grand buildings in the area

Palazzo Morelli is an important example of the region's 18th-century Baroque style. The facade is distinctively decorated, which makes it worth finding along the narrow streets of the centro storico. The building is privately owned. It is best enjoyed from the street where the ornate exterior on the Baroque facade stands out clearly.

The Itria Valley is the heart of Puglia's white wine production, and this spot lets you taste it right next to the vines.

• Taste local Bianco Locorotondo DOC
• Tables set within the vineyard
• Great sunset location
• Easy walk from the old town

Sirose Bufano Wines is located on the edge of the historic center. The local specialty is Bianco Locorotondo DOC, a crisp dry white wine typically made from Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano grapes. Tables here are set right by the vines. If you want more options, Pavì Wine Restaurant offers outdoor seating overlooking the valley, and Vinifera Vini & Affini is a small wine bar with a vine-covered terrace on a quiet street.

This botanical garden sits between Locorotondo, Martina Franca, and Cisternino and is a fantastic stop for families.

• Thousands of rare fruit trees
• Organic fruit picking experience
• Classes in jam-making and fig drying
• On-site apartment accommodations

The garden is dedicated to the Latin goddess Pomona and focuses on conserving thousands of fruit trees that have been saved from extinction. You can spend time picking fruit from the organic orchard. The variety changes with the season, ranging from citrus and pomegranates to stone fruits and berries. Cherry season is a standout. For a deeper experience, the botanical garden also offers classes in fruit preservation techniques like jam-making and fig drying. They even have accommodations on site if you want to stay longer.