Locorotondo
Locorotondo is a town in the province of Bari in the Italian region of Apulia. Locorotondo is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). It has been awarded the Orange Flag of the Touring Club of Italy due to the harmony of its shapes and the accessibility of the old town. It is an intricate network of little streets lined with old buildings and it is known for its typical houses called "Le Cummerse", which have a regular geometric shape and a sloping roof made of two different layers of limestone slabs. These dwellings have nowadays been renovated and offered to visitors as hotels.
Understand
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The birth of the municipality of Locorotondo dates back to around the year 1000. In the 12th century, Locorotondo was a possession of the Monopoli Benedictine Monastery of Santo Stefano, and was recognized as a municipality only in 1806. It was under the kingdom of Naples in the period (1806 - 1815), under the kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1816 - 1860), and finally in the kingdom of Italy.
Climate
[edit]The winters are moderately cold, with episodes of Arctic air and snowfall, while the summers are hot and dry, interspersed with some thunderstorms and fresh mistral breezes. AsLocorotondo is one of the rainiest places in central-southern Puglia, having an average of 750 mm per year.
Get in
[edit]- 1 Locorotondo train station. Located on the Bari-Martina Franca-Taranto line, it is managed by Ferrovie del Sud Est.
Get around
[edit]It can be easily visited on foot.
See
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- 1 Mother Church of San Giorgio Megalomartire, Piazza Fra Giuseppe Andrea Rodio, ☏ +39 0804311236. From the 18th century, built between 1790 and 1825, consecrated on July 13, 1828. It is characterized by a renaissance-style façade and some neo-classical elements. Inside there are stone bas-reliefs dating back to the 14th century. There is a crypt where catechesis meetings are held and minor statues are preserved, including the Assumption.
- 2 Rectory Church of the Madonna della Greca, Largo Madonna della Greca. The first documentary reference dates back to 1520, even if its more remote origins are evident; at the end of the nineteenth century it was the seat of the Confraternity of San Roco.
- 3 Rectory Church of San Rocco, Largo S. Rocco, 125, ☏ +39 0804311236. Church from 1668, inside the main statue of the patron saint San Rocco is venerated.
- The beauty of the historic centre is also constituted by a labyrinth of white alleys, jealously guarded by their inhabitants.
- The Locorotondo countryside is an example of an area of dispersed settlements (jazzelere) and has an abundance of trulli dwellings which were built around a communal area called "jazzile". This settlement pattern is due in large part to emphyteutic leases, particularly in the 19th century for the development of vineyards.
Do
[edit]Locorotondo hedges its bets with two patron saints; San Giorgio who is celebrated with a market fair on 22 and 23 April and San Rocco, who is awarded a day of musical celebrations (called la Diana), from 14 to 17 August, as he still represents the liberation of the town from the plague of the 17th century.
The Hurdy-Gurdy is a traditional festival with folk music and local food and wine stands. Itinerant route between Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Ceglie Messapica, Grottaglie
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 La Panega, Corso XX Settembre, 3, ☏ +39 0802372875. Daily 07:00-00:00. A bakery with outdoor tables where you can taste rustici and other Apulian products,and pizza.
- 2 Villa cafe, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.
Drink
[edit]The town produces a white Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wine that can be made in a still or sparkling Spumante style. The DOC includes 1,650 hectares of vineyards. All grapes destined for DOC wine production must be harvested to a yield no greater than 13 tonnes/ha. The wine is made predominantly (50-65%) from Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano which can make up 45-50% of the blend. Additional grapes are permitted up to a maximum of 5% including Bombino bianco, Fiano and Malvasia Toscana. The finished wine must attain a minimum alcohol level of 11% in order to be labelled with the Locorotondo DOC designation.