Located in the Puglia region of southern Italy, Alberobello is known for its whitewashed stone houses called trulli.
Just an hour outside of Matera is the small town and commune of Alberobello, a hidden gem home to ancient residential structures that appear to be straight out of a fairytale with stout limestone foundations topped with pointed stone roofs. Its unique trulli are known worldwide and earned the spot a UNESCO World Heritage classification in 1996, one of several landmarks in southern Italy with esteemed recognition for their rich culture and architectural beauty.
Its trulli were constructed in the mid-14th century, and were intended to be easily deconstructed to trick passersby and visiting authorities into believing that the developed town wasn’t actually inhabited at all—a clever way of bypassing an edict from the Kingdom of Naples that required every urban settlement to pay taxes. Despite their easily demolishable nature, Alberobello’s trulli are still standing today, and some are still used as primary residences for townspeople.
SEE / DO
While the principal tourist activity of Alberobello is a stroll through its neighborhood of classic trulli homes, the town has many more activities to offer that simply can’t be missed. The Museo del Territorio offers a glimpse into the lives of the town’s earliest inhabitants with small displays of agricultural tools and recreations of trulli interiors in their earliest days. The building itself is an architectural wonder constructed with over ten conjoined trulli which open up into a large exhibition hall.
The town center is also home to several restaurants, bars, and shops, including Gift Idea, which sells fresh orecchiette pasta (an Apulian specialty) and offers olive oil tasting. Oleificio Salamida also produces its own olive oil and sells a number of regional goodies that make for great gifts, but be sure to stock up on a few bottles for yourself too.
98015 Monaco
While the principal tourist activity of Alberobello is a stroll through its neighborhood of classic trulli homes, the town has many more activities to offer that simply can’t be missed. The Museo del Territorio offers a glimpse into the lives of the town’s earliest inhabitants with small displays of agricultural tools and recreations of trulli interiors in their earliest days. The building itself is an architectural wonder constructed with over ten conjoined trulli which open up into a large exhibition hall.
The town center is also home to several restaurants, bars, and shops, including Gift Idea, which sells fresh orecchiette pasta (an Apulian specialty) and offers olive oil tasting. Oleificio Salamida also produces its own olive oil and sells a number of regional goodies that make for great gifts, but be sure to stock up on a few bottles for yourself too.
EAT
Ristorante La Cantina
Via Monte Nero, 30, 70011 Alberobello BA, Italy
La Cantina is a family-run restaurant that serves Apulian favorites like Orecchiette Ragù e Ricotta Forte, Fiori di Zucca, and Capocollo. The restaurant also offers a selection of house wines and is set in a quaint trullo cellar for an authentic Alberobello dining experience.
Ristorante Il Pinnacolo
Via Monte Nero, 30, 70011 Alberobello BA, Italy
Ristorante Il Pinnacolo is another local favorite with fresh dishes from the Itria Valley and spectacular views of the surrounding town from its outdoor terrace. Be sure to order the Orecchiette Alle Cime di Rapa and Pesce Spada alla Brace for a true taste of savory southern Italian cuisine.
STAY
Le Alcove Luxury Hotel
Piazza Re Ferdinando IV di Borbone, 7, 70011 Alberobello BA, Italy
A stay in Alberobello is quite honestly unlike any other, especially if you can snag a reservation at Le Alcove Luxury Hotel, a cozy resort set in a traditional stone trullo. The hotel offers an unbeatable central location and is all-inclusive with breakfast options, room service, an airport shuttle, and a selection of bright and airy rooms all tastefully decorated and surrounded by white limestone.
Massaia Trullo
Downtown Alberobello
The quiet and welcoming Massaia Trullo is an Airbnb favorite located in the heart of the historic town center. The home is an authentic trullo dating back to 1600, and it comes equipped with a kitchenette, a cozy bedroom, a living area, and prime access to Alberobello’s bustling downtown.
Alberobello is a treasure unlike any other across Italy as well as a true testament to Puglia’s rich history, culture, and unparalleled beauty. Whether using it as a base for a tour of the rugged South or stopping by on a day trip, the whitewashed hobbit town of Alberobello is a one-of-a-kind destination not to be missed.
