My name’s Andrea. I’m 22 years old and live in Salento, a region of Puglia in Italy. Welcome to my guide on the best things to do in Alberobello.
I study Communication and work in photography and social media (Instagram). Since I was young, I have always had a passion for photography. Living in beautiful lands like Puglia has allowed me to take photography trips and share the beauty of these places with my audience.
Once I was old enough to start travelling alone I began to expand my horizons and visit exciting new destinations. I enjoy nothing more than inspiring others to travel through my Instagram content and also contributing to the “Colori Di Puglia” social media community.
Visiting Alberobello almost Ten Years Ago
I first visited Alberobello almost ten years ago and immediately fell in love with this place. It’s not a conventional town but I think Alberobello is totally unique and one of a kind. Walking through the trulli (traditional Apulian dry stone huts with conical roofs) is a truly magical experience.
When you arrive in the historic centre, and find yourself surrounded by thousands of Trulli, the first question you ask is: “Is this real? Am I in a fairytale?”. I am lucky enough to live in Salento which is about 100 km away from Alberobello. It’s easy for me to visit the town in a day.
However, easy things in life are often the most difficult. In fact, it was just a few weeks ago that I visited Alberobello again after ten years. I was struck by how impressive this town was. I’m a guy who appreciates the little things and Alberobello is the type of town which offers stunning details.
I immersed myself in the streets of the historic centre for hours and took many photos and videos to share with my community. I mainly visited two stunning and popular areas: “Rione Monti” and “Rione Aia Piccola”.
Rione Monti has over a thousand Trulli and many small alleyways to get lost in. Here there are several artisan shops where you can find local products and souvenirs. Rione Aia Piccola is smaller but it’s older and more special.
My Favourite Place: Piazza Gian Girolamo
The place that I loved the most in Alberobello was the beautiful Piazza Gian Girolamo. Here you can find a gorgeous terrace overlooking the main highlights of the town. I went there at around 8pm and it was golden hour.
The view was just incredible as the sun’s rays slowly illuminated the rows and rows of Trulli and the sounds of children’s voices playing in the square and birds chirping filled the streets. It was like a scene out of a movie.
5 Best Things To Do in Alberobello
Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s easy to see why. The zona dei trulli on the western side of the town is home to beehive-shaped houses that make for stunning photography. It’s a small town but there is plenty to see and do. Below are my top recommendations.
1. Visit Rione Monti with its Stunning Trulli
Rione Monti is probably the region of Alberobello you have seen in photos. It’s home to about 1000 trulli which flank the streets. Get lost in the alleyways surrounding the trulli, shop with the local artisans, check out the squares and see the stunning Sant’Antonio da Padova church.
2. Explore the Charming Rione Aia Piccola
On the eastern side of Via Indipendenza you can find the charming and less commercial Rione Aia Piccola. I recommend this neighbourhood if you want a more authentic experience of Alberobello. You can still see plenty of trulli (over 400) and also check out the views from quaint rooftops.
3. Admire the View at the Terrace from the Belvedere
In the centre of Piazza Gian Girolamo, in between the church of the Santissimo Sacramento and Santa Lucia, there is a terrace on top of a trulli which offers gorgeous views of the entire Rione Monti. As I said before, it’s my favourite place in Alberobello and a must-visit when you’re here.
4. Meet the Amazing People of Alberobello
The people of Alberobello are welcoming and make you feel like at home. This is because the Apulian culture is based on respect and hospitality. What I recommend to travellers is to meet the locals and leave Alberobello (and the whole of Puglia) as a guest rather than as a tourist.
5. Discover the Sensational Cuisine of Alberobello
Apulian cooking is “poor” but in a positive sense. We offer traditional cooking composed of products that are derived from the land around us. Ingredients like turnips, tomatoes, fish, fava beans, chicory and so on.
You have to try: braciole alla barese (beef rolls with a filling of parsley, garlic and pecorino cheese all cooked in tomato sauce), panzerotti (a savoury turnover which is fried with mozzarella, tomato sauce and olives), and fave e cicoria (a simple dish made with fava bean puree and wild chicory).
If travellers want to eat typical dishes I recommend going to a restaurant called La Cantina. Otherwise, you can get a good panzerotto from a place called Principotto. For great breakfasts and brunches try Cosi Com’era.
What you Need to Know Before you Go
Alberobello is not very far from the sea so visitors can stay on the coast if they prefer to be closer to the water. One place I recommend for accommodation is B&B II Leccio – it’s an ideal romantic bed and breakfast in Castellana Grotte.
The only other thing I can recommend to travellers when they come to Alberobello and Puglia in general is to “live” the region. Have a lot of different experiences and excursions, eat typical dishes that the region offers, meet and converse with locals, take photos and bring your swimsuit!
