As the name suggests, Locorotondo recalls the characteristic circular plan of the historic center, a set of small white houses arranged in concentric rings and dotted with cummerse, the typical houses with a sloping roof. What the name does not say is that Locorotondo is also one of the most beautiful historic villages in Italy.
The historic center of Locorotondo
Locorotondo is a town in the province of Bari, but more than the capital - from which it is about 70 km away - it is close to the cities of Fasano and Cisternino (10 km), while only 7 km separate it from Martina Franca, one of the most famous villages in the province of Taranto.
Locorotondo is located on one end of the Bari Murgia plateau and from the top of the hill it overlooks the heart of the Itria Valley, on its fertile land dotted with trulli, halfway between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas.
Also in Locorotondo there are the trulli, the typical conical architectures of Puglia built with dry stone, but they are distributed in the surrounding countryside. The ancient village, on the other hand, is characterized by low whitewashed houses arranged in concentric circles, by balconies adorned with flowers and by cummerse, recognizable houses with sloping roofs and meticulously covered with small limestone slabs, called chiancarelle.
Getting lost in its narrow and enveloping alleys is like living in an atmosphere of other times, an even more seductive feeling during the Christmas period, when all the streets and balconies are dressed in lights and decorations. In the historic center there is no shortage of artisan shops or typical restaurants, but there are also several churches. Among these, the most important is the mother church dedicated to San Giorgio, while the oldest is the church of Santa Maria della Greca, a splendid Apulian Romanesque style architecture.
Also in the vicinity of the historic center is the famous panoramic terrace, from where the horizon opens over the entire Valle d'Itria to the cities of Martina Franca and Cisternino.
The balconies of Locorotondo
Every year, to celebrate the beginning of summer, "Balconi Fioriti" takes place in Locorotondo, an original event in which all the residents of the historic center compete by decorating the balconies of their homes in a way: the scent and colors of geraniums, begonias and hydrangeas become the protagonists of the village, attracting numerous visitors. Nothing is won but there is certainly the pride of having made beauty possible and of having contributed to making the ancient village of Locorotondo known as a place of history, tradition and community.
