Alberobello, a picturesque small town in the Puglia region of Italy, is renowned for its trulli—traditional stone houses with unique conical roofs that are one of a kind in the world. These fascinating structures, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, create a fairytale-like landscape and attract visitors from all corners of the globe. With its narrow, cobblestone streets and authentic atmosphere, Alberobello offers a charming journey into the traditions and history of the region. Exploring this little town is an unforgettable experience, a perfect blend of architectural beauty and local culture. In this article, you’ll find a complete guide with everything you need to know for spending a day in Alberobello.
What to Visit in Alberobello?
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alberobello is not, as the name might suggest, a “beautiful tree,” but rather a small and charming village in Puglia, southern Italy, renowned for its trulli houses. While you can spot these stone-wall houses with conical roofs scattered throughout the region, Alberobello boasts two entire districts made up of trulli:
- Rione Monti (the more touristy area)
- Aia Piccola (the less explored district)
The houses were originally built in this style because they managed to maintain a relatively stable temperature, especially during the scorching summer days. Today, they serve as charming accommodation options.
1. Rione Monti
In the Rione Monti area, the trulli buildings form a true fairytale village. It is the tourist hub of the town and also the most beautiful part. The cobblestone streets climb the hill, lined with white houses with stone roofs, many adorned with colorful flowers and most converted into souvenir shops.
The Rione Monti district consists of a network of streets forming a 1.3 km (20-30 minute) route. I created a map of this route to visit all the streets without doubling back on the same ones multiple times (there are many small labyrinth-like streets, and it’s very easy to forget where you’ve been and where you haven’t).
2. Via Monte Nero
My favorite street in the Rione Monti district was Via Monte Nero, a narrow cobblestone alley filled with flowers and incredibly Instagram-worthy.
3. Trullo Siamese
Walking up the steps of Via Monte Nero, on the upper left, you will come across this ancient house. It has a stepped structure, no windows, and its foundations are made of large stones. This is the Trullo Siamese, one of the oldest houses in Alberobello.
4. Via Monte Pertica
Often, on the domes of the trulli, you’ll find symbols drawn with lime. These symbols are linked to various pagan, Christian traditions or even originate from the primitive world. It is said that they are painted on the domes to ward off the evil eye or to bring good luck to the residents of the house.
On Via Monte Pertica, there is a row of trulli with different symbols painted on their roofs, a spot where it’s impossible not to stop for a photo.
5. Via Monte San Michele
Via Monte San Michele is one of the most well-known tourist avenues, always bustling with visitors eager to capture its most beautiful corners. Like all famous streets, it has often been the setting for film shoots, commercials, and fashion presentations.
Personally, I find Via Monte Nero much more suitable for a fairytale-like photo setting, while Via Monte San Michele is better for stopping at a terrace to enjoy a drink, as it is larger and always quite crowded.
At the end of Via Monte San Michele, you’ll find the famous steps adorned with messages and heart symbols.
6. Trullo Sovrano
Trullo Sovrano is the only trullo that can be visited inside. Here, you can discover the authentic style of a trullo, complete with specific furniture and decorations. I didn’t visit the interior myself, I only made it to the exterior, and I believe that if you’re short on time, it can be excluded from your itinerary.
7. Santi Medici Cosma e Damiano Church
8. Piazza del Popolo
As a central point from which all other attractions can be seen, it can be used as a landmark for parking your car if you arrive by car.
9. Belvedere Terazza Santa Lucia
Belvedere Terrazza Santa Lucia is a terrace that offers a panoramic view of the tourist area of trulli from above. While the view is stunning, unfortunately, it is always crowded, and you’ll likely have to wait in line to take a photo.
10. Snack Bar Agora
Located right next to Belvedere Terrazza Santa Lucia, Snack Bar Agora is a bar that offers an equally spectacular view of the white trulli houses. You can sneak in for a few minutes to take a photo, taking advantage of the fact that it’s much less crowded. We discovered this spot by chance as we were walking by.
11. Other Activities in Alberobello
If you’re spending more than just a few hours in Alberobello, use GetYourTicket to purchase tickets for a unique experience.
Best time to visit Alberobello
The best time to visit Alberobello is during the off-season, specifically in spring (March-April) or early autumn (September-October). During these months, the town is less crowded, allowing you to fully appreciate its charm without the hustle and bustle of peak season. The narrow cobblestone streets are much easier to explore in the cooler weather, as opposed to summer, when the combination of intense heat and large crowds can make the experience more tiring.
We visited Alberobello at the end of March, and it was perfect—few tourists and warm weather. However, considering that March can still bring some chances of rain, it might be ideal to plan your trip starting from April for a more reliable experience.
How long should you stay in Alberobello?
Alberobello is best explored on foot, with a route of about 2.5 km that would take roughly an hour to walk continuously (though it’s unlikely you’ll walk non-stop). With stops for photos, enjoying cafes and restaurants, and soaking in the charm of the town, you should plan to spend around 5-6 hours to fully experience this enchanting destination.
Best places to stay in Alberobello
Alberobello este un orasel pe care il vezi intr-o scurta vizita de cateva ore. Cu toate astea, multe persoane aleg sa traiasca experienta unica de a petrece o noapte in spectaculoasele trulli. Daca vrei sa te cazezi aici, iata cateva optiuni :
Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso
The Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer individually designed accommodations located in traditional stone trulli buildings scattered across various locations in the center of Alberobello.
Trulli Antichi Mestieri
Trulli Antichi Mestieri offers accommodation in traditional stone trullo houses located in various spots in the center of Alberobello.
Best places to eat in Alberobello
You should know that restaurant hours in this area of Italy are quite different from what you might be used to. Most restaurants are open for only 3-4 hours during lunch and then reopen in the evening, usually after 8:00 PM.
- La Cantina: A small, traditional restaurant offering dishes from Puglia with a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.
- La Nicchia
Conclusions
Alberobello is a fairytale-like town, a place you don’t get to see every day. It’s well worth spending half a day strolling through its charming streets lined with trulli. If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend adding it to your travel list—I’m sure you won’t regret it.
