The Name
The name derives from old Latin word Locus Rotundus, rounded place. As early as the first part of the 13th century, because it was located on a hill peak surrounded by walled ring, the village assumed this circular shape that gave it its name, which also appeared in various future documents.
History
• IX-IV cen. B.C., numerous archaeological finds found in this location testify to the presence of ancient populations on hills and also in valleys, but their Greek origins were not proven.
• 1195, the first document in which the name luogo detto Rotondo (and its church of S.Giorgio) is mentioned, derives from the period of Svevo dominance. In it, the nearby Benedictine monastery of S. Stefano, located on nearby Adriatic coast not very far away from Monopoli was also mentioned. From then on, up to the 14th century, with Anjou dominance over Puglia territory, Locorotondo assumed the form of rural settlement.
• XV cen., the property of fief passed from monks to barons: first to the Del Balzo-Orsinis, then to the Loffredos (1486) and the Carafas (1499). Under their dominance walls and the castle were built, which were later destroyed in the first half of the 19th century..
• XVI-XVIII cen., even having a certain kind of autonomy, the village suffered the dominance of its owners who came from Naples or Spain (Figueroa, Borrassa, Caracciolo). This situation lasted for three centuries. Only around the half of the 16th century, by regaining surrounding lands and creating a proper communal territory (1566), a timid improvement of life condition could be seen, with a growth of number of inhabitants and building of many churches.
• 1799, only for a few days, Locorotondo was involved in tumultuous upheaval that marked the destiny of Southern Italy after the Naples revolution.

The “Cummerse”, Characteristic Peaked Roofs made of Chalky Slabs.
White Locorotondo is the most beautiful balcony in Murgia dei Trulli. From its belvedere, you can admire territory that at times seems emotional: a mosaic made of small vineyards surrounded by stoned walls, scrubs of Mediterranean forests and silver olive tree gardens that surround the old manor farms, thousands of trullo houses spread in the villages. Moreover, the small old centre of Locorotondo, closed into its circular perfection of stones and mortars, once upon a time marked by walls, seems pending between dream and reality: the white colour of lime wraps everything, it looks like flashing background of baroque architecture of local stones, underlining the intense colour of flowers on balconies. Characteristic peaky roofs made of grey stoned “chiancarelle”, called cummerse, exalt the facades, that inside represent the typical environment of star vaults. In the village centre there are no particular architectonical emergencies, everything is gracious and intimate, , and you can feel the sense of order, respect, and mature civility that surrounds small treasure chests of faith and art. From piazza Vittorio Emanuele square, where two big pillars from the 19th century mark the old Porta Napoli gate, you can follow a long path where you can find buildings such as former Town hall, today’s Communal Library (end of the 18th century), baroque Palazzo Morelli palace, with its splendid portal and small balconies with railings made of wrought iron, and up ahead, Chiesa Madre church. Dedicated to Saint George, the church, built between 1790 and 1825, where previously three churches dedicated to the same saint used to be , has a façade in style characteristic for the 16th century, and articulated plant shaped as the Greek cross. Inside it preserves 42 marble headstones in low relief from the end of the 16th century, with stories from the Old and New Testament, some baroque altars made of polychrome wedged marble blocks (1764) and a series of paintings painted by Gennaro Maldarelli (1838-41) of Naples. In the crypt there are rests of a burial site from the 19th centuries, some silver objects and urns. Near the church of Chiesa Madre, there is a small church of Annunziata of the 19th century , built where an old oratory from 1633 used to be, that inside preserves some wooden statues and papier-mâché. Chiesa della Madonna della Greca church is more important. Its origins are still unknown. The first document where this church had been mentioned is from 1520, even some architectonic elements, such as a half-barrel vault, make us conclude that it is older than presumed (the 12th -13th century). It has a nave and three aisles with column base and capitals decorated with medieval motif. A rich group of objects sculptured in stone comes from old chapel of Chiesa Madre. The most significant are triptych of the major altar and sculptures of Saint George(1559). Chiesa di San Nicola church (1660) is very original, with its “chiancarelle” stone covering, so typical for trullo houses. Inside, it shows frescoed vaults and an old low relief made of stone of Crucifixion. And finally, small chiesetta dell’Ospedale church, out of the town centre, has its origins in the middle of the 16th century. Beautiful apse, embellished by rests of a fresco representing a prayer addressed to Christ.
Local Products
Secular devotion for grapes cultivation, favoured the production of white wines of excellent quality, such as the famous Bianco Locorotondo Doc: fresh, light, dry, of delicate wine scent, ideal for appetizers, excellent with fish and shellfish.
Local dishes
Gnumerèdde suffuchète are roulades of lamb’s tripe, tied with animal’s guts and boiled for a long time in terra cotta pans. Traditional dishes are also: white dry broad beans, boiled in “pignata” and mashed with some olive oil added: after this processing you have excellent white mashed purée, which should be served with chicory (the real name of this ancient dish is “macco con verdure”). And we cannot forget, meat baked in stoves with coal that echoes back the old traditions; tridd, home-made pasta based of non-processed flour and eggs, a little bit of pecorino cheese and parsley, served in soup made of turkey; country “focaccia” bread, and naturally, “orecchiette” the most famous fresh pasta from Puglia.