Fairytale hilltop town with £68 flights is three hours from Manchester

There are plenty of famous places to visit in Puglia , from the trulli-filled streets of Alberobello to the dramatic white city of Ostuni. And I did visit some of them, but it was a tiny hilltop town that ended up being my favourite. Here's why Locorotondo completely surprised me. At first glance, it could almost be mistaken for a Greek island. The buildings are dazzlingly white, narrow streets wind between pretty houses and colourful flowers spill from balconies. But there's something wonderfully Italian about the whole place that makes it feel unique. The clue to its unusual layout is actually in the name. Locorotondo literally means ‘round place’, thanks to the circular shape of its historic centre, which is built around the top of a hill. Rather than following a straight road through the town, you can simply wander through its maze of tiny streets, never quite knowing what you'll find around the next corner. One minute you're walking past a tiny doorway covered in flowers, the next you've stumbled across a little piazza or an opening revealing the countryside beyond. The houses themselves are ridiculously pretty, with Locorotondo's traditional sloping-roofed homes adding to its distinctive look. But what I loved most was that, despite being undeniably beautiful, Locorotondo still felt like a real town. People actually live here. That's something I've really appreciated when travelling around Puglia. Some of the region's most famous destinations can get incredibly busy, but Locorotondo had a much slower, more relaxed atmosphere when I visited. Even the balconies have their own little bit of local competition. Every year, residents decorate their balconies with flowers and plants, competing to create the prettiest displays. But Locorotondo isn't just pretty to look at. I also had one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten here. I stopped at one of the town's most famous spots, Pizzeria Casa Pinto, where I ordered the Arriete - a tomato sauce-based pizza topped with fior di latte, cream cheese, speck and rocket. The combination was incredible, the flavours did not overpower each other, the speck was quite subtle, and the dough really stood out. The restaurant itself was also beautiful: a rustic taverna with a quintessentially Italian feel, where two locals were making the pizzas. The place is so popular that it was completely full when I visited, with staff no longer taking reservations from around 1pm. I felt very lucky to have got a table, so if you want to try it for yourself, I'd recommend going early. After eating your way around the town, there's another reason to keep wandering. Locorotondo is perched high above the surrounding countryside, meaning you get some incredible views across the Itria Valley. From the edge of the historic centre, the white buildings give way to a patchwork of green countryside, vineyards, olive groves and the region's famous trulli. Locorotondo has all the things you want from a beautiful Italian destination - gorgeous architecture, brilliant food, spectacular views and plenty of places to wander - without feeling like that's all it exists for. There are bigger and more famous towns in Puglia, but I could have stayed here for days. Sometimes the places you weren't expecting to fall for are the ones that stay with you the longest. You can visit Locorotondo as part of Great Rail Journeys’ eight-day ‘Hidden Gems of Southern Puglia’ trip, starting from £1,799 per adult, based on double occupancy. The price includes return flights from London Gatwick or Heathrow to Brindisi, accommodation at a four-star all-inclusive resort, all coach travel, and guided tours and excursions. You can find out more and book on greatrail.com . Manchetester to Bari flights are available from £68 this month. The Bari to Locorotondo transfer takes less than an hour.