The small town of Alberobello nestles in the peaceful countryside of the Itria Valley. Its star attraction is its trulli – round, whitewashed dwellings with slate-grey conical roofs. They line the streets in two areas of town, Rione Monti (where you’ll find most of the shops) and Aia Piccola (the quieter, more residential area).
From the Santa Lucia belvedere (viewpoint), the trulli look a little like a toy town. Wander the hilly streets among them and you’ll see that these quirky little houses have been transformed into shops, wine bars and mini-museums. You can even stay in a trullo if you’re after an authentically Apulian hotel.
You’ll find the odd trullo here and there in Alberobello’s newer part of town, along with some fantastic restaurants and cafes. In terms of getting out and about, the Adriatic coast and caves of Castellana are short drives away, plus you’ve got the Itria Valley on your doorstep – perfect for scenic drives, walks and bike rides.
Your plans, our expertise
Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.
Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.
These two towns are part of I Borghi più belli d’Italia, an association of villages awarded for their historical and cultural heritage.
Locorotondo’s the closest to Alberobello – 10 minutes’ drive on the main road or 15 if you take the scenic route. Make a beeline for the centro storico (historic centre), which wraps around the Chiesa Madre San Giorgio in a knot of shady alleyways and sunny piazzas. Just to the east is the Villa Comunale, a leafy park which opens out into a balcony overlooking the trulli-dotted countryside.
A further 10 minutes’ drive lands you in Cisternino. Again, point yourself in the direction of the historic centre, where you’ll find whitewashed houses, bougainvillea-draped balconies and another park with widescreen views of the countryside. Visit first thing for crowd-free wanderings and coffees in quiet piazzas, or head here in the evening to try out the ‘barbecue butcher’ restaurants.
Flight Information
Flights to Puglia arrive into Bari (BRI) from London Gatwick and London Stansted or Brindisi (BDS) from London Gatwick and Manchester (indirect) and take approximately 3 hours. Please call our Italy Experts in order to book flights to Brindisi.
Visa Information
At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.
Tipping
Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.
Introduction to languages
The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.
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