A Little Corner of Italy
Photo credit: Kristen Velghe from Unsplash
While some destinations in this “hidden gem” series may be known to some of you, they are still less traveled than their heavily visited counterparts. I am hoping this series sheds some light on these beautiful treasures and may make you think about some different itineraries to your favorite countries.
This week the spotlight is on Alberobello, located in the Puglia region of Italy - literally the heel of Italy’s boot. Though Italy is one of the most visited destinations in the world, Puglia is often overshadowed by Rome, Tuscany, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. But it is definitely worth a visit! It is an easy 6-hour train ride or 5-hour car ride from Rome, making it an easy add-on to other regions in this country.
Alberobello is mostly know for it’s trulli, these wonderful conical shaped buildings painted white. Alberobello has the highest concentration of trulli houses. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. What is a trullo (the singular version of trulli)? Built over a thousand years ago, they are a dry mortar construction meant to be taken down quickly. Back then, permanent structures were taxed heavily. So these were a creative way to outsmart the tax man. Funny that structures meant to be temporary are still standing all this time later.
Photo credit: Giulia Gasperini from Unsplash
While the trulli were originally built for housing and storage, very people still live in them in Alberobello. They have been converted into little boutiques, restaurants, and guest accomodation. The shops sell souvenirs and Italian crafts. Shopkeepers sit outside and welcome you to come look inside. Going inside gives you a view of how these structures were built.
There are some lovely places for coffee and a lunch. And a few gelato establishments that are as good as only Italian gelato can be. And, if you want to learn more, we can certainly add a walking tour of the town. Always one of my favorites!
If you want the true trulli experience (I could not help that), you can stay the night in a trulli. Some have been converted into guest accommodations. It is a fun experience and also gives you some quiet evening time in the town almost by yourself.
Photo credit: Sterling Lanier from Unsplash
Alberobello is a great start to a lovely tour around the Puglia region of Italy. With hundreds of miles of Adriatic coastline, it has beautiful beaches and charming seaside towns. It is also loaded with UNESCO World Heritage sites.
While Puglia has been more of a wine growing region - meaning they sent most of what they produced to other regions for blending - there are some great vineyards coming into their own that you can visit. And the food is so good, full of local ingredients from sea, garden and farm.
If you fell in love with the trulli, you will find more in the Itria Valley of Puglia, some of them still serving as houses. Locorotondo is a lovely town to visit. Though they don’t have as many trulli, it is off-the-beaten path, too.
PRO TIP: For a really unique experience, spend a night or two in a Masseria, a fortified farmhouse that has been converted into guest houses and villas. They are architecturally beautiful with Greek, Spanish, and Moorish influences. Some have interesting conversion of the functioning parts of the estates into spas and restaurants. A really fun and unique experience.
Photo credit: Massimo Virgilio from Unsplash