Alberobello, a place so unique it feels like stepping into a fairytale! This town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is famous for its concentration of iconic, conical-roofed houses known as trulli. It’s a small, charming village with narrow lanes. Gently sloping hills add to its charm. It is one of the most popular destinations in Puglia. Alberobello draws visitors from all over to admire its distinctive cluster of picturesque trulli homes. For the best experience—and the best photos—visit early in the morning, when the streets are still quiet.

Great news! Neos Airlines is now running non-stop New York to Bari flights. Flights will operate from June till October.

Alberobello’s Magic Trulli

These distinctive dry-stone houses are built without mortar and topped with grey, cone-shaped roofs. These roofs are often painted with mysterious symbols. They are absolutely fascinating.The trulli date back to the 1400’s. You will see them sprinkled around Puglia, but Alberbello has the largest cluster. Due to their excellent condition and large amount, Alberobello Italy became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Trulli are built with stone only, no mortar. Therefore, a round structure is the best for self-support. The pointed roof supports itself atop the structure. The reason for not using mortar was to avoid paying taxes. Structures can easily be disassembled before the tax man came!
Note: Trulli = Plural | Trullo = Singular

Discover this Charming Fantasyland

When you arrive in town on Via Indipendenza, there are two big parking lots on the right. A few steps after you will find Alberobello’s main piazza, Largo Martellotta. Here, you will find restaurants, shops and market tents. Yum, the local tarelli (pictured below) is delicious. Make sure you buy some to take home. There is a vendor here that has bushels of different flavors. They are small, crunchy bread-rounds that originate from the Bari region of Puglia. This market has the best tasting ones!

Across from the piazza you will find the Alberobello trulli zone with artisan shops and restaurants sprinkled all about. It is really a beautiful area that has about 1,000 trulli built next to each other. You can find many types of trulli here. Trulli bars, restaurants, shops and even a church, Chiesa di St. Antonio. There are many wonderful homemade items and foods to purchase, as well as souvenirs.

Indeed, this town gets very crowded in the afternoon. This summer the throngs of people really surprised me! Think Disney! In spite of this, it is worth a visit. Go in the early morning or evening for dinner so that you avoid all the day-trippers. Alberbello, Puglia is a small village and you only need about two to three hours to see it all.

📸 Best Things to See

• Belvedere (Viewpoint): Head to the viewpoint in Piazza del Popolo. It is located in the modern town. This spot offers the most stunning, sweeping photo opportunity. You can see the entire Rione Monti laid out below you.
• Church of Sant’Antonio: This is the only trullo church. It is built in the style of the local homes. It is located right at the top of Rione Monti.
• Shopping: The small shops are perfect for picking up local crafts. You can find items such as ceramics and textiles. There are also little bottles of the local liqueur, Limoncello.

Other charming towns to visit are Polignano a Mare, Lecce, Locorotundo, Monopoli and Ostuni. Additionally, Matera (in the region of Basilicata) is a must see! If you’re thinking of a personal or group yoga retreat, discover a Puglian retreat near Manduria.

Getting to Alberobello

Alberobello is between the two airports, Bari and Brindisi. As a matter of fact, it is less than an hour drive from each.
I definitely recommend renting a car. The area is very easy to drive around, and towns are close to each other.
Puglia is a wonderful region of Italy. You will fall in love with it, as I did. It is truly beautiful and unique. I suggest staying at least a week. This will allow you to see all its splendor. It will also let you soak up the wonderful culture and enjoy the delicious local cuisine.

Where to Eat Local Cuisine

• Elegant Trullo Dining:
  • Ristorante L’Aratro: Housed inside a lovely trullo, this restaurant offers a refined dining experience. You can enjoy classic regional dishes like fave e cicorie (fava bean puree and chicory).
• Casual & Pizza:
  • Pizzeria Trullo Antico: Perfect for a simple, delicious meal. You can enjoy classic Italian pizza in a very memorable setting.

The cuisine here is hearty, focused on the produce from the surrounding valley.Alberobello is an easy and essential stop when exploring the Itria Valley. It’s truly unlike anywhere else in the world!