Alberobello is a small town famous for its snow-white trulli houses. These “dwarf mansions” attract many tourists year-round. The trulli area includes approximately 1,500 fairytale-like houses with conical roofs, most of which were built in the 14th century.
Cuisine and Restaurants
Alberobello boasts a large number of delicious and unusual restaurants.
In the town center, popular restaurants include Casa Nova and La Cantina. Locals prefer to eat at Gli Ulivi, located in the outskirts of Alberobello.
Activities and Attractions in Alberobello
In Alberobello, the trulli area is divided into two parts: the less commercial and less popular Rione Aia Piccola, with 400 trulli, and the Rione Monti, home to approximately 1,000 fairytale houses. Many of these houses are still inhabited.
Trulli are constructed entirely of stone, using no joining materials. Their cone-shaped roofs are topped with stars, and the zodiac signs are painted on the roofs themselves. The first trulli were built in the 14th century, and their construction was banned in 1925.
This house shape was no accident. During the Spanish occupation, feudal lords were prohibited by law from building any substantial dwellings on their land without government approval. The trulli helped resolve this situation. Before a visit from the authorities, such a house could be easily dismantled. The effort of just three horses was enough to remove a single stone from the roof’s base, as such houses were built without the use of mortar. Half the village could be dismantled in half an hour, and the king’s inspectors always saw only valleys with piles of stones.
Among the local landmarks, the Trullo of Sovrano stands out. Situated in the modern part of the city, it was built in the 18th century. What makes it stand out is its two stories—it’s the only two-story trullo. It was built by the wealthy family of a local priest.
The second landmark is the Church of San Antonio, also located in a trullo. Situated at the top of Rione Monti, it was built with donations from American immigrants.
