Ciao, I am Sara, owner of Benfatti Tours and a curious traveler. I specialise in unique and authentic experiences, slow travel and food and wine tours! Despite the fact that Alberobello gets more and more touristic, it is still one of my favourite places to spend time in Puglia. So let me give you my personal insider guide to visit Alberobello, the charming Trulli town, in 2024!
Nestled in the picturesque region of Puglia in southern Italy, Alberobello is a charming town known for its unique Trulli houses. These traditional stone huts with conical roofs make up most of the town’s historic center and have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Table of contents:
- How to get to Alberobello
- Where to stay in Alberobello
- What you need to know about the typical Alberobello house: trulli
- What to do in Alberobello in a day: visit landmarks, shop and eat!
- Tips & Tricks
How to get to Alberobello
Alberobello is a small village in Puglia, in the south of Italy. The closest large city is Bari, which is serviced by a domestic and international airport as well as the main train line. Bari is only 80 km north of Alberobello so it is not particularly difficult to reach it. Here are a few ways to get to Alberobello:
- by bus
- by train
- by taxi
- daily tours
- by car
Public transport in Puglia
My favourite website to check public transport in Italy is Rome2Rio. Here you can easily type in your origin and destination and get the best results in a second.
Joining a guided tour from Bari is also an option as there are dozens of companies offering daily tours to the Itria Valley’s villages.
Taking a taxi can be quite expensive if you’re coming from Bari, but if budget is not a problem, it could be ideal.
Driving in Puglia
Last but not least, you can reach Alberobello by car. I know you might think: should I drive in Puglia? Well, my answer is YES!
Alberobello sits in the beautiful Itria Valley, known for its picturesque countryside, with rolling hills, ancient olive trees (some are 3 THOUSAND YEARS OLD!), the typical cone-shaped trulli, the dry stone walls along the roads (“muretti a secco”), and masserie (farm houses) from the 15th century.
Don’t you want to see all of this? It’s only possible if you drive through it! And that is why I prefer to visit Valle D’Itria and Alberobello by car!
I know, driving in Italy is hectic. But the scenery is amazing and worth it! You don’t have to rent a bulky SUV, just rent a SMALL car. A quaint Fiat 500 would do the job, and make your adventure Pinterest-worthy!
There are many different car parks in Alberobello. My usual spot is Parcheggio Centro Storico Via Monte San Gabriele. Here you can park your car under the olive trees for a few euros and it is just a short walk to Rione Monti.
Where to stay in Alberobello
When in Alberobello, you must stay in a typical trullo!
I stayed at “La corte dell’astore”, a beautiful hotel just outside Alberobello’s historical centre. I recommend staying there only if you have your own car, or a bike to move around as its location is on a busy road and it didn’t look safe to walk to the town centre.
Having said that, I had a fantastic stay.
My room was a beautiful, restored trullo from the 1800’s. I was alone on a scouting trip for Benfatti Tours and enjoyed resting and sunbaking by the magnificent pool. I had an amazing sleep in my tiny trullo which featured an under the roof room, accessible by some steps. What is now a cozy bedroom was once the ancient storage for hay. I found it really charming and it would be super fun for the younger travellers!
I also had a delicious breakfast with local produce and the staff were very attentive, kind and passionate.
Alberobello’s town centre has quite a few accommodations available, which I haven’t tried myself but have received good reviews: Romanic Trulli B&B, Trulli Holiday, Le Alcove Luxury Hotel.
Staying in Alberobello suits those who seek tranquility and a picturesqe stay, as my perception was of a town that becomes pretty sleepy past 10pm (which is quite early for Italy during the summer months). So if you’re looking for more movida I recommend to base yourself in the nearby town of Cisternino or Ostuni, 45 minutes south of Alberobello.
What you need to know about the typical Alberobello house: trulli
Alberobello’s history dates back to the 14th century when the area was ruled by the Kingdom of Naples. The town was founded as a small hamlet, and over time, it grew into a large village with several farms and homes. It wasn’t until the 15th century that Trulli houses appeared in Alberobello.
In the 15th century, the Royal Kingdom of Naples enacted the Prammatica De Baronibus, an edict that required every newly established settlement to pay tribute to the King of Naples. In 1481, the Conversano D’Acquaviva D’Aragona Count ordered that Alberobello residents build their houses dry, without mortar, to serve as precarious structures that could be easily demolished to avoid paying the tax.
The round form with a self-supporting dome roof was the easiest configuration for the farmers and shepherds that built the trulli, and that is why they have the shape we can still see today. What makes Trulli so interesting is the fact that the shock stone walls make the trulli cool in summer and warm in winter. Indeed and ingenious design!
The builder’s signature (“mastro trullaro”) and special symbols and signs adorn each roof, with these paintings often holding religious significance and intended to bring good luck and protection to the house.
I love looking for those signs around Alberobello and trying to interpret them!
This is why we like to take a guided tour of Alberobello during our Benfatti Tours of Puglia. So our lovely guide can show us the most interesting trulli and tell us all its secrets 🙂
What to do in Alberobello in a day: visit landmarks, shop and eat!
Today, many Trulli have been converted into shops, restaurants, and homes. You can walk through the narrow streets of the Trulli district and admire its unique architecture, but don’t forget your sunnies! It can get quite bright with all that white! 😀
The Trulli district in Alberobello is divided in to two main areas: Aia Piccola and Monti.
Visit Rione Aia Piccola and Trullo Sovrano
Rione Aia Piccola, on the north side, is Alberobello’s residential area, where locals still live in 400 trulli! You can really tell people live there by the fact that there are Ape cars, the three-wheeled Italian cars and vespas parked on the road or that there are less souvenir shops and restaurants.
One of the most stunning trullos in Aia Piccola is Trullo Sovrano, the only two-story structure in the area. Originally constructed in the 1600s and later finalised in its present form during the 1800s, the building has transformed into a museum. Visitors can explore it by paying a modest entry fee of 2 euros. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 12:45 pm and from 3:30 pm to 6 pm I find visiting the Trullo Sovrano particularly interesting to learn about the history of the Trulli and life in Alberobello in the past. Inside, it showcases original crafts and furnishings from the 18th century.
Don’t miss Casa D’Amore, a compelling landmark constructed in 1797 using terracotta and mortar. What sets this building apart is its symbolic significance—it embodies the freedom of Alberobello’s people. The use of mortar signifies a lasting structure, making it challenging to dismantle. This marked a pivotal moment for Alberobello, as it granted the town the rightful status of a city.
Right on the facade is a plaque reading in Latin: Ex auctoritate regia-hoc primum erectum a. d. 1797. “This house is the first built with the permission of the King in 1797.”
If you visit Aia Piccola for lunch or dinner there’s only one place you need to go to: Trattoria Terra Madre right next to Trullo Sovrano! It is the epitome of farm to table. In fact if you’re lucky to get a table in the backyard you’ll sit right next to the veggie patch where the delicious fresh produce on your plate comes from! Make sure you try the traditional orecchiette pasta. Mamma mia!
You can reach the other district, Rione Monti, by strolling down Corso Vittorio Emanuele and across Largo Martellotta. It takes only a few minutes to walk between the two neighborhoods. Slowly walking down from Aia Piccola you can get stunning views over Rione Monti and its trulli!
Stroll around Rione Monti to discover artisan boutiques
Monti is the oldest and largest of the two districts and has more than a thousand Trulli houses! This is also the shopping district where you can find mostly artisan linen shops, souvenir stores and small delis.
I really need to mention a very special artistic shop: La bottega dei fischietti an impressive collection of hand made whistles in every size and shape! You can find it on Via Monte Pertico 9. The owner is a lovely young lady and she will be very happy to tell you all about whistles! I bought one for 10 euros and it was such a precious and unique souvenir!
Among the traditional and picturesque shops, I came across a contemporary artisan jeweller that stole my heart: Intiny Jewellery handcrafted in Alberobello. Another pretty “bottega” is Nené Cucito Creativo. I found here some handcrafted magnets shaped like trulli and apulian cactuses! Love it! Nenè is located in via Duca D’Aosta.
Near Nenè is another must see, the smallest trullo in Alberobello! It is actually a souvenir shop, but it’s OK to pop in for a look!
Rione Monti’s most important landmark is Sant’Antonio da Padova Church, the only church in the world shaped like a trullo!
What typical foods are a must try in Alberobello
If you walk all the way up to the Trullo Church and you’re hungry (again) you might want to pop into the deli around the corner and request a Pasqualino. Who is Pasqualino? Not who but what! It is the typical Alberobello panino, stuffed with tuna, capers, salami and cheese. It’s messy but DELICIOUS! The legend say that a certain Pasquale invented this iconic panino in the ’60s and quickly became popular between the residents of Alberobello. I tried it and I loved it!
You can’t leave Alberobello without a coffee and a pastry at the busy Martinucci Laboratory. Order a Pasticciotto, delicious custard filled pastry served warm. You won’t regret it! This busy shop serve freshly baked pasticciotto with many different flavors. I tried the lemon custard pasticciotto and it was so good I had to have a second one!
Tips & Tricks for your Alberobello visit
- Visit Alberobello in the afternoon to avoid tourist crowds.
- Wear a hat and sunnies, I don’t joke when I say white limestone can hurt your eyes as it’s so bright!
- Wear comfortable shoes. The roads are hilly.
- Reserve a table beforehand if you want to sit in a restaurant.
- Plan in advance where you want to park your car.
- If a store has a sign saying you can’t take pictures, don’t! Some shop owners can get quite serious about it 😀
Alberobello is an enchanting and charming town that offers visitors a glimpse into the past. The Trulli houses are the main attraction, but there is so much more to discover in this beautiful part of Italy.
From exploring the country side with its olive groves and wineries, discover old masserie,i.e. farm houses, visiting small artisan producers to sampling the delicious food and enjoying the slow travel, there is something for everyone in Puglia.
I love visiting Puglia over and over again discovering hidden gems to share with you, lucky traveler!
So if you’re looking for an unforgettable and memorable travel experience to Puglia, consider a tour with me at Benfatti Tours.
Check out our Charming Puglia Tour for 2024 or get in touch to discuss our Travel Design service, I can plan and organise the Puglia Tour of your dreams 🙂
Ciao!