Puglia: Alberobello, Fairy Tale City of Trulli
If you’ve spent any time scrolling through social media looking for the places you want to go when in Puglia, you’ve most definitely seen Alberobello. And I did too. So we headed from Polignano a Mare to Alberobello for a day trip.
Is it worth the trip there? Yes, as being there was like being in fairy tale!
But don’t go with unreasonable expectations. You may not find long unpopulated streets to take gorgeous pictures of the trulli. It can be packed full of tourists so getting the perfect picture might be hard with so many people everywhere (at least during the middle of a day in summer). I feel like we lucked out. It was busy but not terrible! I have read that if you stay overnight, the crowds calm down around dinnertime and early in the morning, so it’s much easier to wander the streets and get good shots of the trulli without so many people.
But don’t let the crowds stop you. Just manage your expectations and I would recommend only spending 2-4 hours there (unless you are staying overnight).
There are 1,000+ conically shaped trulli (trullo is singular) in Rione Monti, the largest trulli district packed with souvenir shops, cafes, and crowds. These round white huts with grey cone-shaped roofs aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen in an old European city. Walking through an entire village of trulli was like being part of a story book!
Alberobello’s trulli became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. They were recognized for their mortarless construction, a building method that dates back to prehistoric times and is still in use today. Builders stacked limestone rocks on top of one another without using cement. Back in the day, local lords forced people to build this way so they could quickly tear down the roofs and avoid paying property taxes.
We spent our time here wandering the alleys and looking at all the trulli, having lunch, and enjoying the atmosphere.
As you walk through the narrow streets of trulli, there are plenty of stores that offer a trip up to their panoramic balconies to see the trulli from above – with a purchase of course! So I bought something and headed up to the roof to see the view from a different angle.
Where we ate - After wandering around a bit, we found an incredible little restaurant off of the main streets – Appero. When at Appero, one must enjoy an Aperol spritz!
We then enjoyed a wonderful lunch. I had (more) octopus! It was amazing and served with hummus. Mike had one of the local, well-known sandwiches with ham (la puccia).
If you’re in Alberobello and need a restaurant recommendation, I’d definitely recommend Appero!
Summary - When in Puglia, definitely go to Alberobello so you can see and experience the magic yourself!
Return to the Puglia overview blog: Puglia, Italy: What Dreams Are Made Of.
