A guide to Alberobello – “Trulli” Amazing

A few years ago, when I was randomly googling places that I would want to visit in Italy someday, I came across this gem – with its dwarf houses (Trulli) that look like they are part of a fairytale movie set, it took my breath away. And this year when Italy finally happened, I didn’t have any doubt about the first place that I was going to have in my itinerary – Alberobello!

We took the intercity night train from Bologna (after taking a short train ride from Florence to Bologna). Both those tickets were pre booked.

How to get to Alberobello from Bari

Trains to Alberobello are not run by Trenitalia but by the FSE (Ferrovie Sud-Est) which operate only on Binario (platform) 10 of Bari Centrale. There is an FSE ticket office there, and not in the main lobby of the station. Buy 2 way tickets to and from Alberobello and stamp the onward ticket only in the machine nearby.

Stay inside a Trullo in Alberobello

Our little trullo

Breakfast spread!

We had booked our stay inside a trullo. How enchanting! The Trulli Holiday Resort (walkable from the train station) own many Trulli in the Aia Piccola (authentic residential Trulli quarter) and they arranged a small trullo for us :). Our host there, Francesco helped us know the surrounding area and gave us prints of train and bus schedules.

What are Trulli?

They are houses built with limestone using dry stone masonry i.e. without any cement. This was due to the high property tax in the area, so people would dismantle their homes when inspectors were in the area. The walls are plastered with lime and whitewashed. The trullo cone may have whitewashed symbols like heart, cross, moon etc. which are Christian symbols.

Trulli Sovrano – a 2 storey well preserved Trulli

Walk through Trulli land – Rione Monti

Rione Monti is a more commercialized and larger Trulli quarter than Aia Piccola and has over 1000 Trulli. Most Trulli are now shops selling souvenirs and condiments or are restaurants. There’s nothing much to do in Alberobello than to get lost in the fairy tale landscape.

Those symbols *heart eyed smiley*

Souvenirs shapes like trulli 🙂

Walk to Belvedere Santa Lucia to get a panoramic view of the Trulli.

Orecchiette (ear shaped) pasta that is local to this region of Italy

You must try the burrata cheese – a combination of mozzarella and cream.

Church of the Saints Cosma and Damiano

Truffle tagliatale – the best pasta I’ve ever had!

Rough expenses –

1 train ticket to Alberobello – 5 €

Entry fee to Trullo Sovrano – 1.5 €

Stay per night in trullo small – 70 €

We stayed 2 nights at Alberobello doing a day trip to Polignano a mare in between before moving on to Rome for the last leg of our Italy trip.

Here’s a general guide to visiting Italy on a budget (flights, visa etc.) + the other places I visited in Italy – Visiting Italy on a budget

🙂