The 9 things to do in Alberobello

On holiday in the trulli capital? To visit Alberobello in the best way, discover our 9 essential things!

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the beautiful villages of Italy, visit Alberobello is a must-see during your stay in Puglia. This town is internationally known for its atypical houses occupying the place. In circular form, dwellings are built with non-joint stones and lime coated.

The charm of the houses of the region lies mainly in their cone roof which is often decorated with a symbol. The origin of the trulli dates from the Prehistory, but they only settled in the Puglia region in the early 1400s.

Located in the Itria Valley, the trulli capital offers many things to see. If you would like to know more, discover our guide to the must-see in Alberobello.

1. Trullo Sovrano

Before you begin to introduce the biggest trullo in Alberobello, here is a short spelling lesson: trulli is said in the plural and trullo in the singular.

With a height of 14 meters, the Trullo Sovrano is the most impressive in the city. It is also the only one to have a floor. He testifies to the evolution of the manufacturing techniques of the trullo houses. Indeed, it is one of the first that was built on mortar basis. Inside, furniture and antique objects decorate this unique home.

Originally, Trullo Sovrano was named after Corte Papa Cataldo, in reference to the name of the priest who lived there. Progressively, the building served as a courtyard, chapel, monastery, oratory of countryside, etc. Today it is a must-see place in Alberobello.

If you are looking for this building during your visit to the trulli capital, start by raising your head to the height. And if you still don’t see it, it is behind the church Santi Medici, north of the city.

2. The Monti district

When you come to visit Alberobello, you cannot pass next to the Monti district. This is the tourist place of the city. Here you can admire all the trulli that decorate the city of Alberobello. It is also an opportunity to buy souvenirs in many shops or to taste local specialties in a restaurant in Puglia.

And if you want to push the experience to the end, the neighborhood is full of hotels. It is not every day that you will have the opportunity to sleep in a trullo.

3. Places of worship

Visiting Alberobello is also discovering the many religious monuments of the city:

Sant’Antonio Church

Unique in the world, this church was built in 1926, in the form of a huge trullo. For this reason, it is also nicknamed the trulli church. Overlooking Monti hill, the building is built from seven trulli.

Also visit the interior of this unusual place. You will discover a relic of Saint-Antoine de Padua.

The church of Santi Medici Cosma e Damiano

If you want to discover Alberobello and its history, it is in this basilica that you will have to go. In a neoclassical style, the building was inaugurated in 1885. Despite its architecture, which denotes with the dwellings present in the capital of Trulli, the church is the religious emblem of the city.

4. Aia Piccola district

What to do in Alberobello to get out of the tourist trails? Direction the Aia Piccola district which is much more authentic than that of Monti. Here, shops and restaurants are less numerous, but the real inhabitants of the city reside in the trulli of this neighborhood.

Today, only one third of the trulli is for use in housing. The other third is entirely dedicated to tourism while the latter are abandoned.

5. Museo dell’Olio

What to do in Alberobello to discover the past of Puglia? The Museo dell’Olio (in French: Musée de l’huile) is an excellent way to take a dip back. Here you will discover the tools used by our ancestors to produce olive oil, such as stone grinds, cast iron presses or natural fiber filters.

To help you understand the history of Puglia workers, the museum provides you with multilingual legends and interactive videos. At the end of your visit, don’t miss the olive oil tasting in the area. You're gonna enjoy yourself!

6. A cooking class

Immerse yourself in the capital of Puglia by taking a cooking class. Whether privatized or in a group, a real Italian chef will teach you the basics of gastronomy in the region.

You will learn to make good Italian pasta and you will go to the Alberobello market to buy fresh and local products. And above all, you will know how to use olive oil to season your dishes.

7. The territorial museum

Fifteen trulli communicate with each other to give birth to the museum of the territory. Discover life in these traditional dwellings through tools, objects, but also testimonies of the residents of Puglia. The museum will answer all the questions you have asked since you arrived in the village: how do the inhabitants live? Why build Trulli? How do I build them?

If you are passionate about popular traditions, the museum of the territory will be a mandatory stage of things to visit in Alberobello.

8. The valley of Itria

The trulli capital is located in this valley. When you come to visit Alberobello, you must go there. But more than a clear passage, we strongly advise you to take the time to admire the landscapes of this region. Whether hiking, biking or horseback riding, the Itria Valley promises you a true bowl of fresh air during your stay in the Puglia.

In the south you will admire Monte Fellon and Monte Castello. Inside the valley, go in search of the caves characteristic of the region. Among the best known are the caves of Castellana or the gorges of Villa Castelli.

9. Local specialities

If you want to be sure to eat well in Alberobello, you must test the local specialties.

Start the aperitif with delicious taralli , ring-shaped cookies, typical of the region. Then pass the dish with some pasta con le cozze alla tarantina , the famous Italian pasta accompanied by mussels and a succulent sauce.

And if you picnic in the Puglia, it is puccia you'll have to taste. It is a crunchy cake with many local products.

Things to do around Alberobello

Visiting Alberobello is also going to discover an exceptional region. Among the must-sees in Puglia, do not miss the following sites:

• The caves of Castellanaonly twenty minutes from the capital of the trulli;
• Locorontodoone of the most beautiful villages in Italy;
• Cisternino, which will enchant you with its eastern-style town;
• Ostunia small village covered in white with the facade of its houses.

How do I get to Alberobello?

The simplest way to go to Alberobello is to having a car to visit the surroundings. No panic, if you are not vehiculated, you can rent a car . But there are also alternatives:

• Take the train: There is a small train station in Alberobello. That being said, it is very likely that you have correspondence to Bari ;
• Coming by plane: the nearest airport is Bari. It is possible that you have a stopover, so if you want a more direct flight, do not hesitate to check on a comparison of flights as Skyscanner. Once in Bari, you can opt for the train or bus to reach the trulli capital;
• Going by bus: the bus network is very well developed in Italy. From wherever you are, many buses reach Alberobello.

Where to stay in Alberobello?

Visiting Alberobello and spending the night is a unique experience. Whether you prefer hotels, hostels or apartments in Airbnb , it is very likely that you were staying in a trullo. If you want animation during your stay, we recommend the area Monti .

Conversely, if you are looking for calm and authenticity, the neighbourhood Aia Piccola is the best alternative. Whatever your preference, hotel comparisons offers many accommodation options for your stay in Alberobello. Finally, if you think you’re making a roundup of Puglia, Bari is a preferred solution.