A Dreamy Village In Italy Has Enchanting Stone Homes Straight Out Of A Fairytale

Italy is well known for its incredible cuisine, historic artifacts, and beautiful landscapes. From the shimmering seas of Sicily to the towering mountains of the Dolomites, one could spend years in this country and never be able to see it all. For those seeking an underrated and unique experience in Italy, off the beaten path and away from the more popular places like Rome or Milan, a visit to the southern region of Puglia is a must. In Puglia lies the small village of Alberobello, a uniquely constructed, fairytale-like village with white homes topped by pointed limestone roofs. A walk along its cobbled streets will make you feel as though you were just spat out into a scene in some Italian folklore.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, Alberobello has the highest concentration of these hobbit-like homes, also known as trulli. According to the UNESCO site, the trulli are made up of "corbelled dry-stone construction," a method that dates back thousands of years and is still used to this day. Although small, a day exploring Alberobello and its unique architecture is well worth the trip, proving that small towns in Italy are just as beautiful as places like Florence.

According to a BBC interview with Annunziata Berrino, author of a book on the trulli of Alberobello and a professor of contemporary history at the University of Naples Federico II, these structures were originally built to "serve as temporary field shelters for shepherds and animals ... and were constructed from stones that locals removed from the rocky soil to plant olive trees and grape vines. Over time, these huts began to function as storage spaces for farm equipment as well as permanent homes for farmers and small-scale landowners."

There was a clever purpose behind the unconventional building techniques of these trulli. The town was built at the end of the 15th century by peasants who were told they could build temporary housing while farming. The rumor is that the peasants built their homes in this fashion (with rocks for roofs) because they were easy to dismantle if and when the king's tax collector came around. A house without a roof couldn't technically be considered a house, and therefore, no taxes had to be shelled out.

Whatever the real reason for this interesting building technique, these homes are an incredible testament to early architecture, solely by how well they've stood the test of time. What makes the construction of trulli unique is that the builders did not rely on plaster to set the stones, rather they would assemble the stones in a way that formed a stable structure. Many of the trulli that can be seen throughout Alberobello also have decorative points at the top of their roofs, as well as religious and astrological symbols whose purpose according to UNESCO "is to ward off evil influences or bad luck."

Covering an area of 27 acres, Alberobello is comprised of two main neighborhoods as well as several individual trulli. The largest and most famous district is Rione Monti, with around 1,000 trulli. Located here is the unique Siamese trulli, two fused cones that according to local legend represent a tumultuous relationship between two brothers. Pay a visit to Trullo Sovrano, the town's largest and only two-story trullo, making it the most advanced structure in the area. A complex of 15 interconnected cones is called Casa Pezzolla, which includes the Museo del Territorio, a museum that offers the history, traditions, and folklore of the area. During the weekend, the museum comes alive with actors, workshops, music, and folk dancing. 

Make your way to Casa D'Amore, a historic home dating back to 1797, and the first built after the King of Naples released Alberobello from taxes. Wander through Rione Aia Piccola, with only 600 trulli used as residential homes, which makes it the smallest neighborhood in Alberobello. Stroll past souvenir shops and up to St. Anthony of Padua, a beautiful trullo-style church, or over to Belvedere Santa Lucia, a viewpoint with stunning sightlines of the village below. Alberobello is meant to be enjoyed as the Italians do, slow and easy. Spend your day nibbling on some delicious pastries and enjoy the architectural wonders that await you in this unique Italian town.