Top Things to Do in Alberobello: Itinerary With Map
If you are also wondering what to do in Alberobello, in Puglia, you will be happy to know that the next paragraphs will lead you right there, with your heart and mind to touch the stones that make up the famous, as well as World Heritage Unesco, trulli of Alberobello.
Of course, it is also important that you don’t get the wrong idea of what awaits you: this area is very, very touristy, so don’t deceive yourself by looking at the images you will find taken during a good downpour, and remember that during the summer, it is good practice to get up early to visit the monumental area and savor it before the hordes of tourists arrive.
Well, don’t worry: I’m also here to help you follow 1 day itinerary in Alberobello that makes you enjoy both the more touristic area and the one used totally to be inhabited (and therefore more peaceful).
How about if we start immediately to find out what to see in Alberobello?
Things to do in Alberobello
Trulli, cats that camouflage themselves on the tiles, souvenir and handicraft shops, museums and flowers that give that touch of color to the monumental area made up only of the white of the walls and the gray of the roofs.
What to see in Alberobello, then?
Follow the itinerary that you will find in the next lines and you won’t go wrong (don’t worry, you will find the link to the map at the end of the article for your convenience)!
But then get lost, get lost even among the trulli, the scent of flowers and stroll around trying to imagine how people used to live around here.
1: Aia Piccola district (Monumental area)
I advise you to start your visit from the Rione Aia Piccola residential area with “only” 400 trulli.
This area will gently take you to reach the most beautiful attractions of Alberobello, concentrated in the Rione Monti.
The Aia Piccola district (UNESCO protected heritage), is used entirely to be inhabited: no commercial activity can be open and, for this reason, you will find yourself walking in a very authentic area.
2: Museum of the Territory
Located in the Aia Piccola district, this museum consists of 15 communicating trulli : it is a unique building of its kind, inside which it is possible to discover the traditions and history that characterized Alberobello and the surrounding areas.
Through the exhibition rooms, you will be able to see aspects of peasant life today such as weaving, the processing of terracotta, copper, stones and grapes, but also and above all the construction technique of the trulli, with rooms dedicated to the symbols that you will see on the roofs of some and the pinnacles placed on top.
3: Belvedere Terrace Santa Lucia Alberobello
This panoramic terrace which is located on the border between the Aia Piccola district and overlooks the Monti district, will show you the true image that we all have of Alberobello: a village that seems to have come out of a fairy tale, with houses made entirely of stone, conical and pinnacles at the tips of each of them.
It takes imagination, of course, but try to imagine what this village was like hundreds of years ago and you will be able to see its beauty outside the beautiful tourist place it is today.
Are you looking for a trullo to sleep in in the centre? Check out the nicest accommodations in the Monumental Zone conveniently here.
4: Rione Monti
Going down the Scalinata dell’Amore you will find yourself in the main square, the starting point for visiting the Rione Monti.
But which way to take? It is almost indifferent, considering that all roads lead to the trulli!
Before starting the ascent, however, you must know that this neighborhood has the largest number of trulli: we are talking about over 1000 houses, most of which are used as souvenir shops, shops and restaurants.
5: Trullo Siamese
One of the first attractions that you could see in the Rione Monti is the Trullo Siamese: it is a particular building, as it consists of 2 trulli connected internally by the ceiling.
In reality, the legend that has been handed down around this peculiarity is the one that tells that the trullo was inhabited by two brothers.
One of the two was betrothed to a girl who fell in love with the other brother, so the trullo was divided in half.
Inside the trullo there is now a souvenir shop.
You must know that.. you must know that many souvenir shops in Alberobello offer the possibility of free access to admire the trullo.
Just keep an eye on the external writings that invite tourists to visit that trullo for a specific reason: perhaps because it has an internal well or other unique architectural features.
6: “Trullo” Church
Located at the end of the Rione Monti, there is a very particular church: it is the “trullo” church.
The cult building is not very large, but it is worth reaching to admire its interior and external side bell towers and the trullo-shaped roof.
7: Casa D’Amore monument
After having strolled peacefully in the Rione Monti, the time has come to visit 3 attractions located in the Aia Piccola district.
The first of these is the Casa d’Amore Monument, the first building made with mortar and terracotta in 1797. It must certainly be said that this building represents a real symbol of the transition from rustic and mortar-free buildings to more complex buildings two floors.
The building was declared a National Monument in 1930.
8: Parish of Saints Doctors Cosma and Damiano
This parish almost seems out of tune with the landscape that Alberobello has given you so far.
The warm colors and dimensions make it a building that certainly arouses curiosity.
Built in 1882, this basilica houses works of art such as the painting of the Madonna of Loreto on the altar, the frescoes of the martyrdom of the saints and the ascent into Heaven by Francesco De Biase.
You might also be interested in saving this itinerary of what to do in Bari in 1 day.
9: Trullo Sovereign
This is a trullo-museum that can be visited at a cost of €2 (the ticket can be purchased on site and the independent visit is very short).
It is the only 2-storey trullo in Alberobello, built in the 1700s and once inhabited by a wealthy family.
It is possible to admire the interior of the building, admire the authentic historical objects and go upstairs through a masonry staircase.
10: The Trullo-restaurants
During your wanderings between one trullo and another, you may feel peckish.
So why not take a regenerating break in a trullo-restaurant? Casa Nova, Terra Madre and the “L’Aratro” restaurant are some of the best typical restaurants in the area.
Try the orecchiette in a thousand sauces, savor the Panino Pasqualino, the meat bombettes, the Bari-style focaccia or the stuffed one.
And for dessert? Obviously the sugary taralli.
How to visit Alberobello
To visit the city of trulli and discover the best things to see in Alberobello, you have different ways:
- Gastronomic walking tour (from €40) : what if I told you that there is a tour in Alberobello where you can not only discover the monumental area, but also taste the typical specialities? Primitivo wine, local cheeses and cured meats.. are you feeling peckish yet? Then this is the tour for you!
- Independently : you can visit the monumental area without the slightest problem in complete autonomy, perhaps by following the itinerary that I proposed just now.But, if I may give you some advice, make sure you read up on as much as possible about the fascinating history behind these stone creations.
Are you looking for another village to visit nearby? Then find out what to do in Locorotondo , located less than 10 minutes away!
Accommodation in Alberobello
Sleeping in a trullo is not only a unique experience, but also a very practical way to visit Alberobello.
Here are some quick tips in this regard, and two selected structures for your stay:
- Trulli Holiday (from € 91) : by choosing this trullo in the central area you can forget about the car during your stay, sure that you can reach every attraction on foot.This widespread hotel develops entirely in the trulli area and offers traditional double and family trulli accommodation suitable for hosting 2 adults and 2 children.
- I Trulli Del Nonno Michele (from € 92) : by opting for a stay in a trullo outside the monumental area, you will be able to live a unique experience but be sure of being in a quiet area from which you can still easily reach the true trulli area and own.The proposed structure offers trulli studios, perfect for those traveling as a couple, but also larger trulli suitable for large families.On site you will also find a beautiful swimming pool and parking is free.
Some curiosities to know
What are trulli (and how they were born)
You know the proverb: “Make the law, found the deception”? Here, you must know that the trulli are (perhaps) one of the most striking examples of his implementation.
These beautiful buildings, in fact, were born from the ploy that the population found to avoid paying the tax foreseen by the edict of the Kingdom of Naples (in the 15th century) that citizens had to pay for each new building built.
By building these dry constructions without the use of mortar, the buildings were “easily” dismantled in the event of inspections and the population thus avoided paying the expected tax.
The symbols on the roofs of the trulli
Walking in the districts of Alberobello, a spontaneous question may arise in you: what do the symbols on the roofs of some trulli represent? These are mostly esoteric, magical and propitiatory symbols for the inhabitants of the trullo.
FAQ: Questions with answers
1: Where to park to visit the trulli area?
Alberobello is not only trulli, but the monumental area can be easily visited by leaving the car in the paid parking lots along Via dell’Indipendenza.
There are more than 6 parking areas available (obviously for a fee), but to follow the itinerary on Sara Perche Viaggio, the most practical thing will be to leave your car in the first parking lot (directions here ).
2: How long does it take to visit Alberobello?
A full day is what I recommend dedicating to Alberobello: in this way you will be able to savor the tranquility that hovers in the early morning, stroll calmly among the trulli and trattorias where you can eat local specialties, and stay until evening, when the sky blue leaves room for artificial lighting which decorates and makes the trulli area even more suggestive.
A dispassionate advice? Spend at least one night in a trullo to be sure you savor all of this with maximum convenience.
3: Where to stay in Alberobello?
If you don’t have a car with you, the most convenient solution is certainly to stay in the monumental area of the trulli ( here all the offers ); if, on the contrary, you are looking for a traditional accommodation but outside the most touristic area, I suggest Masseria Rosa or the Trulli Del Nonno Michele.
These accommodations are especially recommended for those traveling by car.
4: When to go?
Alberobello is a place to visit in every season of the year: in winter when a candid blanket of snow covers its roofs for strolling while admiring the smoking chimneys, but also and above all in summer, when the flowers that color its monochromatic streets give color and joy.
In short, the atmospheres are very different according to the season, but know that the best time to visit Alberobello are the months of May, June and September, when the climate is pleasant and the cost of accommodation affordable.
With this guide on what to see in Alberobello, I really hope I have been able to give you all the information you need to discover the monumental area of the trulli, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
As promised, here is the itinerary that I suggest you follow to visit Alberobello: by clicking on the link, the map will be opened directly on the Google Maps App on your smartphone.
Convenient, right? If you have any doubts or questions or would like to share some attraction that I have not mentioned, leave your comment below.
If, on the other hand, you want to discover other villages in the Itria Valley, don’t forget to take a look at what to do in Ostuni, the white city par excellence, or learn more in this itinerary in the Itria Valley.
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