A Macchiato in Locorotondo

It’s name is probably one of the catchiest Italian word you'd be pleased to hear: Locorotondo. It litterally means "Round Place" and it's much more than one of the most picturesque villages in the country, it's simply one of the most unforgettable strolls ever.

A sweet composition of whitewashed facades defines the skyline of the old town, which stands out against the hill with it’s circular layout. It's lovely to wander around the tiny streets for few hours, taking photos or simply enjoying a well deserved capuccino.

This little jewel lies peacefully in the middle of the Apulian Itria Valley, a typical Mediterranean landscape nearly 20 km from the waters of the Adriatic coasts, a fabolous gem in the heel of the boot.

This iconic portion of Italy features a combination of olives shrubbery, copious vineyards and the famous cone roofed houses called Trulli. It's easy to spot some example of landscape between the little streets, with breathtaking surprises.

Named after the first King of Italy, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele is the heart of the old town, with a café and a tourist information center, the perfect place to start your walk.

As often happens in many historical spots in Italy, the feeling is that modernity was too shy to break into this peaceful equilibrium.

On the other side, Locorotondo is now more than ever pinpointed as a must-see in the recent Apulian touristic revamp, as it's definetly part of several itineraries and a destination that you can enjoy at a slow pace.

This popularity is often granted through a sincere dedication to maintain the old atmosphere of the village: a fresh paint of white time by time is necessary to preserve the magic.

The Mother Church of Saint George is the largest and the most worshipped of the five churches in the old town. Built in 1790, it presents a neoclassical facade and a 35 metres high dome, which defines and spires in the skyline of the village.

Apulia is one of the great agricultural realities of Europe, with quality productions of wine and olive oil; it won't be easy to choose, but certainly not difficult to find a typical glorious Trattoria to enjoy traditional local delicatessen.

In recent years the number of visits to Apulia has boomed, thanks to a well coordinated project of sustainable tourism and local development. It's thus not uncommon to see how many old properties have been dynamically reconverted to hospitality use also in Locorotondo.

But behind the tourism increase there's also an autochthon population that fight against the depopulation, which is pretty common in the southern part of the country.

Nothing can proof the presence of the local polulation like hanging laundry at the sun, plenty of socks and underwear basking en-plein-air reveals the true authenticity of the destinations.