Discovering Alberobello in a Day

Alberobello is that place where you think, "Do houses like this really exist?" The trulli are just that: small limestone houses with cone roofs, built without mortar. It's old-school farmer stuff, using whatever was available in the countryside. Since '96, they're a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attract people from all over. But to me, it's still a true corner of Puglia.

The Rione Monti is the part you see everywhere: uphill streets, over a thousand trulli lined up, many with strange symbols like stars or hearts to ward off evil. Today, most are shops, bars, restaurants, or souvenir stores. It's nice to walk around, but in summer, it gets crowded. Among the classics is the Trullo Siamese (two domes joined, with a romantic story) and the Church of Sant'Antonio, built entirely as a trullo in the '20s - outside it looks bizarre, but inside it's charming.

If you want peace, head to Aia Piccola. It's smaller, with about 400 trulli, and many locals still live there. No loud shops, no tourists taking selfies every few steps: just quiet alleys and trulli with flowers in front. I go there when I need to breathe, especially in the evening.

Other things I like:

Casa Pezzolla (the Museum of the Territory): 15 connected trulli showing rural life, tools, and traditions. It's interesting if you want to understand why all this exists, but check the opening hours online first.

Trullo Sovrano: the only two-story trullo, furnished like the old days. Nearby is the Basilica of Saints Cosma and Damiano, beautiful but more "normal," with relics of the patron saints. Free entry, great for a break from the crowd.

For food: orecchiette with turnip tops, grilled bombette, a piece of caciocavallo podolico, and a white wine from Valle d'Itria (and goodbye diet 😑).

In Rione Monti, you'll find trattorias everywhere. But I prefer the side streets. They're quieter and cheaper.

For photos, the best spot is the Belvedere Santa LuciaBelvedere Santa Lucia. It's a terrace near a small church. From there, Rione Monti looks like a carpet of gray cones. At sunset, everything turns pink and orange. Another nice spot is around the Church of Sant'Antonio.

The first time I really went was in July 2023. It was on July 9 during the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show. It was crazy: the town was full of models with huge trullo-shaped hats, super sexy lace dresses, and embroidery that looked like old Apulian straw art. Celebrities, photographers, total chaos. The Belvedere was unusable that day, but seeing high fashion among real trulli was incredible.

To explore everything calmly (neighborhoods, museums, good food), one full day is enough. I spent two days because I wanted to enjoy it slowly and catch the event. But if you're short on time, one day is fine.

About visiting: there are many guided options. Like the classic guided tour of the trulli (around 25€ per person). It lasts less than two hours, takes you to top spots, shares historical anecdotes, and ends with a local olive oil tasting. If you're in a group or want something personalized, there's also a private tour. Or the private tuk-tuk tour (costs 40-80€ depending on people). You ride this open vehicle, hear stories and anecdotes while touring the center and maybe the countryside too. It's cool for those who don't want to walk much.

But honestly? I explored everything on my own, following more or less the itinerary I mentioned above. I didn't have any problems. The town is small, and the alleys are easy to navigate. If you learn a bit about the trulli's history (like why they built them that way, the symbols on the roofs), you'll enjoy it a lot. Sometimes I prefer it this way: go at your own pace, stop where you like, no rush. But if it's your first time and you want to dive into historical anecdotes, a short guide might be worth it. It's up to you.