A small town situated within southern Italy only 30 minutes from the coast features an unique element making it look like a fairytale town out of a picture book
Nestled in the south of Italy is a picturesque Mediterranean town with houses like no where else in the world.
Alberobello is a small town located in the Puglia region of Italy, known for its unique and iconic trulli houses. Trulli structures are distinctive dry-stone huts with conical roofs, built with mortar. The particular structure is used to keep the houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
The little town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has become a popular tourist destination. Dating back to the 14th century, many of the trulli roofs feature symbols painted in white, which range from Christian crosses to astrological and pagan symbols.
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The town is split into two main areas — Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. Rione Monti is the larger and more commercialised area, filled with souvenir shops and cafes. On the other hand, Aia Piccola is quieter, more residential area, where traveller can experience the trulli in a less touristic environment.
If travelling to the town, there are many districts to explore featuring narrow streets of Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. One particularly unique destination is Trullo Sovrano, which is the only two-story trullo in Alberobello and is now a museum showcasing how people used to live in the unique houses. Alternatively, head to the Basilica of Santi Medici Cosma e Damiano, a neoclassic church at the hear of the town.
The town boasts multiple other museums too, including the Museum of Wine, the Museum of Olive Oil and the Museum of Handicrafts. The Puglia regions is also know for its rich culinary traditions, such as orecchiette pasta, burrata cheese and fresh seafood. Wine is also a significant local product, with Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro producing some of the region’s famous varieties.
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If you want to make sure you get the best of Puglia’s food scene, then opt to go on the Alberobello Gastronomic Walking Tour, which costs €69 (£57.39) per person. The nearest airport is in Bari, which is about 34 miles from the town. When at the airport, you can take a train, bus or drive to Alberobello.
Many tourists in the area visit Alberobello as a stop on their road trip through Puglia. The town also makes a great day trip from nearby cities such as Matera, Polignano a Mare and Lecce. Even though the town is set back from the coast, if you do wish to go to the beach it only takes 30 minutes in a car from Alberobello.
If visiting during the summer months, the town is much busier but also has multiple festivals taking place. There are multiple trulli’ that are able to be stayed in, to get the real experience of the town’s inspiring architecture.
