Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso offers unique accommodation set in traditional Trulli stone buildings in different locations around the center of Alberobello. WiFi is free. Everything is super.. great breakfast in the cafe on the square!
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Average price/night: RUB 6,559.
9.4 Excellent 1,505 reviews
Alberobello
Offering a bar and restaurant, Hotel Silva is located in Alberobello, just 55 km from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport. A sweet breakfast is served daily. A cozy hotel with a homely atmosphere. Very responsive and attentive staff. The hotel's proximity to attractions. Conveniently located 10 minutes walk from the train station. The rooms are cozy and have a balcony. Very good breakfast, lots of pastries, fruits, yoghurts, delicious coffee. Thank you all very much. Fabulous! The staff is very friendly. Rooms are beautiful and clean. The breakfast was fantastic. Cappuccino made to order. We loved everything about the hotel. Thank you very much for everything. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Olga
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Average price/night: RUB 5,512.
9.3 Excellent 545 reviews
Alberobello
Le Alcove nei Trulli is a luxury hotel set in a series of traditional trulli houses in the center of Alberobello, offering an unusual combination of modern amenities and ancient stone dwellings. Only here! Liked everything!!
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Average price/night: RUB 11,024.
9.3 Excellent 143 reviews
Alberobello
The 3-star Hotel Cuor Di Puglia is a 5-minute walk from Alberobello's historic centre. It features an outdoor swimming pool. We chose this hotel because we wanted to see the trulli and relax by the pool (we stayed for 2 nights). And we were not disappointed. Although at the beginning of October the water was already cool (for me personally), it was nice to sunbathe in the morning. And it’s very cozy to sit in the garden in the evening. There are brown wicker sun loungers by the pool (and in sufficient quantities). All around is clean and quiet. There is a small supermarket next to the hotel in the next building. The choice is certainly not great, but it’s better than nothing :-) There’s a specialized store with cheeses and wine nearby. The hotel is located a little away from the trulli, about 5-10 minutes walk. By the way, buses with excursionists are brought to the stop opposite the hotel. And from this site everyone walks to the city. The staff is very friendly. Although they speak little English, we managed to communicate perfectly ;-) By the way, the rooms are very clean. For example, during this trip to Italy we stayed in 5 hotels. So I give this hotel 1st place for cleanliness. Breakfast is also good (for Italy). Yogurt, cheese, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, various pies, juice and coffee... We arrived in Alberobello from Bari by train. From the railway station it takes about 15 minutes to walk. And we left by bus to Monopoli. So the bus stop (that is, a stop, not a station) is located on the same road. If you need a stop, ask at the hotel and they will mark this place on the map for you. The bus to Monopoli takes 40-50 minutes. And it runs approximately every 2 hours.
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Average price/night: RUB 5,144.
8.9 Amazing 230 reviews
Alberobello
This sophisticated 4-star hotel is located in the historic center of Alberobello, surrounded by the beautiful Apulia countryside. Excellent location just a short walk to Trulli areas. Breakfast was very good - loved the fresh fruit and home made yogurt. Easy parking at property on close by on street.
Alberobello is a town of "dwarfs". Incredible, unusual, bewitching, fabulous... It earned a special “nickname” thanks to the trulli houses, which were located almost one on one on the city hills. They are cylindrical buildings with roofs in the shape of a cone, on which zodiac signs, religious symbols, etc. are depicted. And Alberobello is the only city where a block of such houses has been almost completely preserved. For this Alberobello is considered the cultural capital of the Ittria Valley. Having visited this town just once, you will definitely want to come back here again. People come here to relieve stress, enjoy real organic products, appreciate the hospitality of the locals and the uniqueness of the thrull houses.
Geography
Alberobello is located in the southern part of Italy - near Bari, Apulia region. The city is located on the Adriatic Sea coast on two hills, between which a river flows. The eastern part is modern Alberobello, the western part is a historical heritage, this is where the trulli are located. From year to year, many pilgrims come here, visiting the basilica (in honor of the martyrs Damian and Cosmas). It is the trulli that are the “highlight” of this city, forming the texture of the ancient districts of Ayia Piccola and Monti. They are national monuments of Alberobello. Once upon a time, oak groves grew in this place, which were actively used to create various military mechanisms. This is where the name of the city Alberobello comes from, which comes from the Latin words “arbor” and “bellum” (translated as “tree”, “war”). The area of the city is 40 km², according to 2004 data, the population is 10,930 people (with a population density of 271 people/sq. km.). Geographic coordinates of the town: 40°47′00″ N. w. 17°14′00″ E. d. Alberobello time zone: UTC+1, in summer it switches to UTC+2.
Climate
Alberobello has a moderately warm climate, which is characterized by high rainfall (646 mm per year, an average of 77 mm falls in November). Even in the hottest month there can be quite a lot of rainfall. The average annual temperature is 13.7 degrees. The warmest month is August (average temperature 22.4 C, maximum - 28.1 C), the coldest month is January (average temperature 6 C, maximum - 9.6 C). Between the dry and rainy months there is a fluctuation of 16.4 C. The active season is from May to October. In summer, it is best to come in the evening, when the heat subsides a little. In winter, rest is also quite comfortable, because the temperature practically never drops below 5-6 degrees (the minimum temperature was recorded in January - 2.5 C). And in winter, on the eve of Christmas, festivals are held here, accompanied by light shows. Although there is no sub-zero temperature here, as well as snow, due to the constantly high humidity, the cold is felt differently - it penetrates “to the bones”. When it's sunny and no wind in winter, it may seem like it's spring outside.
Story
The Yttriya Valley was first mentioned in the 16th century. During this period, peasants were brought in to cultivate the land (led by Andrea Matteo III, Acquaviva dynasty). Due to reluctance to pay tax to the King of Naples, people had to build houses from limestone collected with their own hands, without using a connecting mortar. There was a stone at the base of the house - as soon as it was removed, the structure turned into a pile of stones. As a result, the tax did not have to be paid - after all, in fact, the Inquisition did not discover any housing. The dukes eventually prospered without spending a penny, but the peasants constantly had to rebuild. But this “technique” was used only once, when in 1644 the entire settlement turned into ruins overnight. In 1797, King Ferdinand exempted Alberobello from taxes - this allowed residents to build more reliable houses using reinforcement. But there were few such “dared souls”, since at any moment everything could change again. Trulli were actively erected until 1925 (it was then that a decree was issued banning the construction of such structures), although these were no longer buildings made of limestone, but more durable ones - mortar was used. Today such houses are sold, there are museums, souvenir shops, and a wine library in such buildings. The very name of the houses comes from the Greek “τρούλος”, which means “dome”. The most ancient trulli buildings from the 16th century are located in the Murgia area. For almost the entire 20th century, this town was in decline; just 50 years ago, a trulli house could be purchased for about 2,000 euros. Since 1996, the trulli in Alberobello have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then the situation changed dramatically. Tourists flocked here, and the price of interesting houses is sometimes 1 million euros.
Attractions Alberobello
- The city of Alberobello is known as the "capital of trullo". Trullo is a bizarre architecture unique to the Italian region of Puglia. Trullo - houses with conical roofs in the shape of a cone. In the Alberobello Monti area there are about a thousand trulli buildings. They are located on seven streets leading to the top of the hill. The panorama is crowned by the trullo church of Sant'Antonio. There are about 400 trulli in the Agia Piccola area, this part of the city is almost untouched.
- The first evidence of the cult of Saints Cosmas and Damian (in the Russian tradition - Kuzma and Demyan) among the inhabitants of the city of Alberobello appeared already in the 16th century. Probably, the inhabitants of this small town began to venerate these saints after the Counts of Acquavivo and Sconeversano brought a small image of the Madonna and two twin brothers to Alberobello. The Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian was built in the neoclassical style. The facade of the building was built in 1885. It is decorated with long pilasters, fluted columns with capitals of the Carimba order and two Roman columns with capitals of the Composite style.
- The Church of Sant'Antonio is an austere building made in the trullo style. The church is located on a steep hillside in the Monti area. Built in a few months, the church opened its doors to visitors in 1927. It rises above the city, symbolizing the fight against other religions. At least that’s what the customer Antonio Dibrevis intended. The church features an imposing main entrance and a staircase above a round window that leads to a small room in the church's dome, surmounted by a Greek cross. Next to the trullo dome is the bell tower.
- The Regional Museum of Alberobello was created to preserve and support the unique cultural heritage of the city. The museum is located in the very center of the city. Recently restored, it tells the story of a unique city, known throughout the world as the capital of the amazing trullo buildings. In the museum you can see the inside of the trullo buildings and examine numerous household items of the inhabitants of Alberobello. The museum also stores historical documents and archives. It is worth noting that the museum is located in the only two-story trullo building in the city (!).
- Another attraction of the city of Abelberobello is its main tourist square, Popolo (Piazza del Popolo). A distinctive feature of the square is the huge number of open-air tables located in the square. It is because of them that the square is very popular not only among the local population, but also among tourists.
Events and festivals
In the summer, tourists can expect many concerts, literary evenings, performances, entertainment, and festivals. In winter, it is incredibly fabulous here in the pre-Christmas period - with the onset of 17:00-18:00, an incredible light show begins. A lot of entertainment awaits you here at any time of the year. Be sure to visit the wine tours, tastings AllWays Puglia, Trulli e Puglia, Charming Tours, Discovery Puglia-Day Tours, Top Service GmbH Alberobello Day Tours, using Segways. It is much more convenient and faster than walking. It is interesting to visit the Trullo Sovrano Museum, where you can fully immerse yourself in the life of the local Trulli inhabitants. Visit vineyards, wineries (Damati), local farms (Azienda Agrituristica Laire - the main point of rural tourism). The city day itself is celebrated on September 25-27. After visiting the Puglia region, be sure to try to get to popular events in neighboring cities:
- Live scenes of Presepe in Puglia in January, during the Nativity of Christ - are performed both in Alberobello and Trani, Rutigliano, Polignano, Vico del Gargano, Mare, Ostuni.
- Carnival of Putignano Putignano (Bari), which takes place in February.
- Festival della Valle d'Ittria-Martina Franca (Taranto) and Castel del Monte Andria (BAT) in August.
- The Grape Harvest Festival in September-October with its own tasting, performances and performances.
Restaurants and cafes
Italians love to cook, the food here is very tasty and special. An appetizer, a first course, meat or fish, as well as fruit, dessert and coffee - this is what awaits you for lunch. But given the generosity of Italians and the size of the portions, only a few can cope with such a list. Most restaurants offer a unique assortment of appetizers - Buffet di antipasti. There are fried meatballs, cheese, cold cuts, vegetables. In Puglia, orecchiette pasta is popular, served with grated cheese and tomato, sometimes with meatballs added. If you decide to go have lunch, keep in mind that Italians are used to doing it closer to 13:00-14:00. Therefore, restaurants are open from 12:00 to 15:00, then they may close to prepare for the subsequent serving of dinner (around 21:00, and sometimes even 22-23:00). It is customary to leave a service charge of 2 euros per person, bread is served free of charge, as for tips - everyone leaves as much as they see fit. There are places for snacks - there you can try the famous fried panzerotti pies, pizza, flatbread with oregano and tomatoes (focaccia). Alberobello offers many restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, bars - almost all of them are located near the historical quarter of Rione Monti. Come try local cuisine at:
- La Cantina (Vico Lippolis 8 | ang. Corso Vittorio Emanuele);
- Trulli e Puglia Wine Bar (Piazza Gabriele d"Annunzio 3 | 150 meters from the Saint"Antonio Church);
- Evo Ristorante (Via Papa Giovanni XXIII 1);
- PACO WINES ENO-WINERY (Via Monte Nero 2 | Via Monte Nero, 2).
The average bill in restaurants ranges from 25 to 30 euros - here, of course, everything depends on your appetites and requests. Looking for something reasonably priced? Then pay attention to:
- Trattoria Amatulli (Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 13 | a 20 Metri Dalla Piazza Del Popolo);
- Favola in tavola (Via Brigata Regina 37);
- Trattoria Terra Madre (Piazza Sacramento 17);
- Gli Ulivi (Contrada Popoleto 15).
During walks and excursions, you can snack on nuts, olives, roasted chestnuts, sweets, etc. - all this can be found on counters on every corner.
Shopping
In the trulli area there are many souvenir shops where you can buy popular products and things. If you are looking for natural products, pay attention to the Enoteca sign. Many people buy sweets made from almond dough and amazing ice cream. The freshest fruits and vegetables can be purchased profitably at the market, which opens every Thursday along the streets leading to the historical center and in Largo Martellotta Square. Visit the gourmet and souvenir shops:
- Enoteca Tholos (Via Monte San Michele 20);
- Gift Idea (Via Monte Sabotino 10/14);
- Trullo Antichi Sapori (Via Monte San Michele 37);
- L'antico telaio (Via Monte Nero 46);
- Da Intini (Via Monte San Michele 28);
- Mondi di sabbia (Via Duca d'Aosta 7).
To remember the Italian Alberobello, you should definitely bring a souvenir - a trullo. These can be T-shirts, T-shirts with images, figurines, magnets, small houses - small copies of trullo, tablecloths, plates, towels, etc. - it’s possible to find goods from 3 euros. You can also bring home edible souvenirs - gift sets with orecchiette paste, wine, liqueur, olive oil.
How to get to Alberobello?
There are several ways to get to Alberobello:
- By plane. The nearest airport to the city is 70 km away. Many planes fly here from all over Italy and most European cities, but there is no direct flight from the CIS - so you will need a transfer. Alberobello can be reached directly via Bari. From the airport to the railway station there is a bus every hour (it takes 30 minutes, costs 4 euros), as well as a train (it takes 15 minutes for 5 euros). Not far, 75 km from the trulli city, there is another airport - Brindisi. But here there is also no direct connection between flights with CIS countries, and no direct route from the airport to Alberobello - transfers will also be required. If you wish, you can rent a car or order a taxi (approximately 130 euros).
- You can get to Alberobello from Bari by train, after arriving by plane. Trains depart every hour and take 1.5 hours. The ticket costs 4.90 euros, it can be purchased both at the ticket office at the station and at retail outlets in the city - valid for 1 trip. From Alberobello train station it is very close to all historical places - in 10 minutes through Giuseppe Mazzini, Via Garibaldi you can reach Piazza del Popolo. From there it’s on to the popular Rione Monti.
- You can take a bus directly from Bari to the town of Trulli. This is one flight that costs 4.20 euros and takes 1 hour 15 minutes. It's very easy to book a ticket online.
- By car. You can also get there from Bari by car - along the SS172 highway, which is free to travel. You will go through the cities of Turi, Casamassima, Putignano. The trip will take about an hour.
Transport
Are you driving a rental car to Alberobello? Once you reach your destination, it is better to park your car in the Largo Martellotta area. Parking is paid - about 1 euro/hour. There is a machine that issues coupons - calculate the walking time in advance. So as not to have to pay a fine for an “overexposed” car. It is very convenient to walk here - you can see historical sights and stroll along narrow tourist streets. If you came here from Bari by train or bus and are completely tired, you can use a taxi. Tourists can benefit from Segways, which make excursions even more interesting.
Accommodation
There aren't really many accommodation options in Alberobello. But you can find a hotel that is acceptable in terms of comfort and cost in the range of 80-100 euros/day. You just need to think about booking in advance. There are three and four star hotels:
- Villaggio Camping Bosco Selva (Contrada Bosco Selva, 27);
- il Gabellota Resort in Trulli (Strada Comunale Gabellotta 5);
- Villa Grassi (Via Malvischi, 9);
- Relais Masseria Rosa (C.da Reinzano, 626 - S.S 172 dei Trulli | Locorotondo);
- Trullo Vacanze (Via Monte Cucco 51);
- Domus Antiqua Residence (Via Due Macelli 06 | Accanto alla Cantina Albea);
- Trulli San Leonardo (Contrada San Leonardo 1);
- Masseria Luco (Contrada Noci);
- Noi Aparthotels (Via Umberto, 5);
- La Casa del Nonno (Contrada Curcio 498);
- B&B Dimore Sovrano (Via Olmo 13), etc.
If you wish, you can pay attention to villas and apartments. Those who want to taste all the charm of this place immediately look for guest, country or farm houses. The main thing when booking is to focus on tourist reviews.
Connection
Arriving in Italy, every tourist strives to purchase a SIM card from local operators. You can buy it at post offices or directly at the telephone company offices themselves. Well-known operators in Italy:
- PosteMobile
- Vodafone
The last two are the most popular. To make a call, you can also use a telephone machine, for which you will need special prepaid cards (carta or scheda telefonica), they can be purchased at any step. For international calls you will need a telefonica internazionale card. You can also use bars or the post office, paying for the call after the call ends (the “skatti” system). Free Internet will be available at any railway and bus station, airports, museums, and hotels. In principle, Internet cafe networks are also well developed in Italy.
1. The most convenient way to get to the city is from Bari. Trains in this direction run every hour, and the trip takes one and a half hours.
2. If you are planning to visit Alberobello, you should definitely know that prices in the city are steep. For example, the cheapest breakfast (consisting of two courses) in a local restaurant will cost more than 30 euros.
3. Photography lovers should definitely visit the city. Local landscapes and fairy-tale trullo houses will be ideal subjects for photographs.
4. It will be interesting to know that in the summer the city hosts numerous festivals, performances by famous Italian (and not only) performers, as well as all kinds of poetry evenings.
5. The most popular products among tourists are wine, olive oil, cheese, and grappa. And all because the products here are environmentally friendly.
Alberobello on the map, panorama
If you like a quiet province with its simple way of life and special charm, then the small Italian town of Alberobello will be a real discovery for you.
This amazing place is located in the province of Bari, Italian region of Puglia. The town is located on two hills separated by a river. On the east stands modern Alberobello, and on the west is Trullo, famous for its unique medieval buildings.
The distinctive structures called “trulli” give Alberobello its unique character. These unusual white houses with cone-shaped roofs form entire streets.
Original, fairytale-like trulli dwellings are located in two areas of the city - in the Monti area and in the Agia Pikkula area. The main feature of the buildings is that they were erected without the use of any strengthening solutions, and this was not done by accident.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kingdom of Naples had a law that imposed a special tax on all urban settlements. To save on taxes, the Acquaviva dynasty ruling the city forbade its peasants to build strong houses using cement.
Local residents found a way to organize a roof over their heads and at the same time please the ruling feudal lords. They came up with round houses with domed roofs lined with stones, which could easily be destroyed if tax collectors came to the settlement.
The domes of the trulli were decorated with domes of various shapes, which, according to some scientists, testified to the skill of the builder and the class to which the owner of the house belonged. In addition, the domes were decorated with special mystical signs, which can still be seen on the roofs of perfectly preserved trulli.
In 1797, by a special decree of the King of Naples, Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, the city of Alberobello received freedom and the need for constant construction and destruction of houses from residents disappeared.
Modern Alberobello is a wonderful tourist attraction. In the summer, concerts, poetry evenings, and jazz festivals are regularly held here. In 1996, Trullo was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Read also about Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
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The small Italian town of Alberobello is known to many tourists who appreciate the comfort and indescribable charm of the Italian province. During the season, which lasts from the beginning of May to the end of October, the commune, located in the Apulia region, is flooded with travelers not only from European countries, but also from all over the world.
This popularity of the city with a population of just over 11,000 people is explained quite simply: this is where the fabulous-looking houses - trulli - are located.
Trulli houses in Alberobello from a bird's eye view
These amazing buildings, many of which were built 400 years ago, evoke admiration among visitors to Alberobello and an irresistible desire to stay in the city as long as possible. From May to October, the settlement, founded at the beginning of the 16th century (and maybe much earlier), is always noisy and crowded: thousands of tourists crowd the narrow streets, numerous guides tell the history of Alberobello and the trulli houses in different languages, and local merchants offer travelers will be offered a variety of souvenirs and organic products. Wine, cheese, grappa, olive oil - all this is in constant high demand, and is literally sold out by visitors in a matter of minutes.
In Alberobello, all sellers earn decent amounts during the season, but the main source of income for the local budget is, of course, the tourism business. Only wealthy tourists can afford to stay even for a week in an Italian commune. Room prices in trulli hotels are unusually high. This is due to the fact that huge amounts of money are annually allocated from the city treasury for the preservation and maintenance of unique trulli structures in their original form. It is worth noting that the domed houses are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: this means that all of them should remain preserved for our descendants.
Houses with roofs marked with pagan symbols have long become favorite subjects for professional photographers. Photos taken in the Italian town of Alberobello constantly grace the covers of the world's most popular tourism magazines. The commune in Bari is a great place for those who want to enjoy picturesque rural landscapes, get rid of stress and try the “real” vegetables, fruits, wine and dairy products, which have recently become extremely difficult to purchase in supermarkets.
By the way, in this small town you can meet face to face with a star from the world of cinema, show business or a famous politician: many of them have their own trulli houses in Alberobello. Only rich people can purchase this structure, built without cement and literally supported by one stone. The price of one square meter of ancient housing in an Italian provincial town has long exceeded 6,500 (!) euros. It should be borne in mind that for this amount you can only purchase an almost completely destroyed “useful area”. For entire trulli houses, and even those located in the city center, the price immediately increases 3-4 times.
Trulli houses in Alberobello
According to historical documents, trulli houses began to be built in the Italian city since the end of the 14th century. However, some historians argue that such unusual domed structures appeared on the territory of modern Alberobello much earlier. By the way, such houses were built by ancient people long before the Roman Empire appeared on the map. At the moment, we can only safely say that the name of the city comes from the oak forest (beautiful trees), and the name of the fairy-tale houses from the word “Trullo”, which translated from Latin means dome (houses with a dome). By the way, they are “fairy tales” only for modern tourists; the ancient inhabitants of Alberobello had no time for fairy tales in their time.
The technology for constructing trulli houses is unique, and at the same time, extremely simple. The indigenous inhabitants of the town collected light blocks of limestone from nearby fields, brought them to the construction site and fastened them together without the use of cement. The roof of these buildings resembles a dome, on which the symbol of a pagan deity was depicted.
The craftsmen built trulli houses not because of religion and certainly not because of their love for the world of beauty and unusual things. These living quarters appeared in the Kingdom of Naples only because they were... quite easy and quick to destroy. The city of Alberobello has been ruled since the beginning of the 16th century by feudal lords who were part of the legendary Acquaviva dynasty. They did not want to pay the king a tax on settlements and allowed peasants to build on their territory only those houses that, if desired, could be turned into a pile of stones in the blink of an eye. As soon as the royal official approached Alberobello, all the inhabitants pulled out the stone at the base of the roof of their house and it immediately collapsed. The settlement instantly disappeared and the feudal lords did not have to pay taxes. The rulers prospered, and the townspeople, after the departure of the king’s representative, again had to rebuild a roof over their heads.
The trulli house really rests on one stone: even those buildings that have survived to this day can be easily destroyed in just 10 minutes. Only in 1797, Ferdinand IV of the Bourbon dynasty granted Alberobello freedom and, thereby, freed the townspeople from hard labor. The need to destroy their houses has become a thing of the past: in a small settlement, buildings erected using cement began to appear.
However, most of the indigenous people still preferred the trulli houses (there was always the possibility that the generous king would take away the freedom he had granted). Houses with domed roofs continued to be built. By the way, among these unusual architectural objects you can see both a “male” and a “female” house. The ancient masters always decorated the “male” with a dome, on which was depicted the symbol of the master and the owner’s surname! In 1925, the Italian authorities issued a law that prohibited the construction of such facilities throughout the country. By the way, this law still applies in our time: a trulli house can only be reconstructed; new architectural masterpieces are no longer built according to this plan and using this technology.
Modern Alberobello: tourism, shopping and entertainment
These days, Alberobello is one of the most attractive tourist destinations for travelers. The city is located on two picturesque hills, separated by a small river. The eastern part of Alberobello is of greatest interest, because it is where the largest number of trulli are located. In total, there are just under one and a half thousand unusual buildings in the ancient city. Many houses that could be destroyed in a few minutes are still inhabited by people. However, most of the architectural objects of interest to tourists are no longer used for their intended purpose: local entrepreneurs have opened souvenir shops, hotels, restaurants and bars in them.
Alberobello also has two main attractions: a temple built using the same technology as the trulli houses; and the only two-story house in the city, which dates from the 18th century. In the two-story building, almost immediately after the inclusion of unusual houses on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a museum was organized dedicated, as you might guess, to trulli houses. The cost of a ticket giving the right to visit this museum is symbolic - only one and a half euros.
Visiting restaurants and bars will not be as cheap for tourists as visiting a local museum. At the restaurant Il Poeta Contadino, whose interior gives a complete picture of what trulli looked like during the Middle Ages, the cheapest breakfast, including two courses, costs more than 30 euros.
Amazing houses, hospitable locals, national cuisine, which is extremely popular among true gourmets, the most interesting history of the city - all this attracts tens of thousands of guests to Alberobello every year. Where there are a lot of tourists, there is always a demand for housing, souvenirs and food: this is well understood by local residents who, even for huge sums, do not want to part with their trulli house, trulli bar or trulli store. If in the 16th-17th centuries houses built using ancient technology only brought headaches to the indigenous population of the city, today they bring huge income: simple souvenirs, cheese, wine and beer in restaurants run out by noon.
In the south of Italy on the Adriatic coast is located the small fairy-tale town of Alberobello. Its name comes from the Latin words " arbor" And " bellum”, which are translated as “tree” and “war”. In ancient times, oak groves grew on this site, used for the production of reliable military mechanisms. Today, when you come to this city in the province of Bari, you can get not only the obligatory southern Italian tan, but also a lot of impressions. A trip here can be an unforgettable highlight of your trip.
The city became famous due to its unique white stone urban buildings - Trulli ( trulli) . What is it? Trulli are small houses with a mandatory conical roof. After all, translated from Greek “trulli” is a dome (τρούλος). Although locals like to joke that the name of their houses comes from the characteristic sound “trrrul!” with which the house fell apart when the locking stone was removed. Similar buildings are not found anywhere else in the world and therefore, due to their uniqueness, they were included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list in 1996.
History first mentions the Yttriya Valley in the 16th century. Around this time Andrea Matteo III, belonging to the Acquaviva dynasty ( Acquaviva), brought his peasants here to cultivate the land. However, the feudal lord did not want to pay the tax to the King of Naples, which was supposed to be paid for the settlement. Because of this, residents had to collect pieces of limestone from all the surrounding fields and build their homes from them without using a fastening solution.
A feature of this structure was the ability to quickly and easily destroy it. For this purpose, a special stone was used, laid in the base. When it was withdrawn, the house turned into a pile of stones, for which there was no need to pay tax.
The approach of the royal tax collectors became known in advance. And by his arrival the settlement no longer existed. This allowed the local dukes to prosper for a long time, but their peasants had to rebuild a roof over their heads each time. In 1797, King Ferdinand of the Bourbon dynasty granted the city of Alberobello freedom and tax exemption. After which some actually began to build their houses using bracing. But the majority of residents were able to fully believe in the freedom granted, because the king could take away the gift at any moment. And classic houses with a domed roof continued to appear until 1925, when the Italian authorities passed a law prohibiting the construction of trulli. It still works today. This means that you can only reconstruct existing buildings, and in no case build new ones.
By the way, the trulli tax was officially abolished only in 1979. Today, almost all trulli are privately owned. Accordingly, they are sold and bought. The price will depend on the location and, of course, the condition of the building. On average it is approximately 5...30 thousand euros.
Despite all the external similarities, trulli are still somewhat different from each other. For example, the presence or absence of a dome with the image of the master’s sign. Moreover, buildings with a crown are considered masculine, and those without are considered feminine. You can also notice the difference in the pattern on the masonry of the dome. The most common ones are zodiac signs, religious or pagan symbols.
Today Alberobello is the only city in the world in which entire neighborhoods with trulli have been preserved. From which it is considered the cultural capital of the Yttrian Valley. Narrow streets and small houses with round domed roofs annually attract many tourists who want to see the cultural Italian heritage.
View on map of Italy
When should I arrive?
The tourist season in Alberobello begins in April and ends at the end of October. At this time, the city hosts numerous music festivals, concerts of famous performers, performances by theater troupes and even poetry evenings. It is also worth remembering that, as in any other place, prices for everything are much higher during the season. Therefore, it is best for tourists on a limited budget to get acquainted with the history of the trulli in the off-season. This fabulous city is definitely worth spending 1-2 nights in.
Hotels in Alberobello
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