Central Puglia
Alberobello
What’s the most iconic image of Puglia? Perhaps it’s Alberobello, with its world-wide famous trulli. This town is truly charming, almost too much to be believed.
What to see in Alberobello
Every corner of every street can be admired in Alberobello, but there are some places that are exceptional, like the Trullo Sovrano, and the Trullo Church, not forgetting the characteristic little shops that sell local artisan products.
Did you know?
Trulli are so unique that they arouse curiosity in us all. Why do they have that form? And what about those pinnacles? Here are a few bits of interesting information about these exceptional Italian monuments, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Trulli really came into their own in the 15th Century when the Kingdom of Naples issued an order that imposed tributes for every new urban settlement. The local population ingeniously came up with dry stone walls – without any mortar between the bricks – that could be easily taken apart, thus evading the tax.
The cornices that jut out from the rooves were used for collecting rain water into their own cisterns. The external staircases allowed the cones to be filled with straw and grain from above.
Every trullo has a pinnacle on top, with many differing origins. It could be the stylistic monogram link to a master trullo builder, or it could be a distinctive sign linked to the owning family’s heritage, or it could have a religious/pagan symbolism.
The symbols on the cones also have varied origins, both pagan and Christian. There are around 200 different symbols that were used to protect the family from the evil eye, or perhaps paying homage to some divinity.
What to do in Alberbello
Alberobello’s town centre isn’t too big and so everything that you need to see is close together. You can spend a wonderful day walking through the town, along evocative streets and photographic viewpoints.
Don’t Miss
Here are a few ideas as to how to make your holiday in this area the most fun and enjoyable as possible.
Alberobello’s stones hide thousands of stories. With the help of a local guide, you can learn all that you need to know about Alberobello, in a fascinating trip into the past.
Visit an artisan workshop and discover the art of trulli in miniature! The artisan’s skilled hands make tiny masterpieces to admire!
The new generation of trulli builders are creating something original. If you’re curious about how trulli are built, and would like to lend a hand to these builders who are slowly but surely, stone after stone, rebuilding these trulli, this is for you!
How to get around in Puglia
Do you want to see the many interesting places to visit so you can organize your holiday in Puglia? Make the most of our interactive map. It will help you so much.