What to do · Itria Valley
Alberobello on foot: the Rione Monti and the Trullo Sovrano
Information
- From
- €2 person, Trullo Sovrano
- Duration
- 2 h
- Season
- All year; best early or at sunset
- Who it's for
- All ages; slopes and steps, a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
- With a dog
- On a lead in the streets; the Trullo Sovrano does not say whether it admits dogs
What it is
Alberobello is the city of the trulli: it concentrates them in two districts of the old town, the Rione Monti and the Aia Piccola, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996. The walk links the two districts and ends at the Trullo Sovrano, a house-museum that can be visited inside, with its original furniture.
The Rione Monti climbs a hillside, with hundreds of trulli on steep streets. Many are now shops, bars and accommodation, and by mid-morning it fills with groups. The Aia Piccola, across the road, is smaller and quieter, with more trulli that are still homes. Look at the pinnacles that crown the cones, each one different, and at the symbols painted in lime on the stone roofs.
The Trullo Sovrano
It is in Piazza Sacramento, in the northern part of the town, behind the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. It is the only trullo with an upper floor, reached by an inner masonry staircase, and one of the first built with mortar. Its central cone is about 14 metres high and is surrounded by eleven others. The left wing dates from the early 17th century; the rest was built in the first half of the 18th by the family of the priest Cataldo Perta, and the facade is dated 1796 or 1797. It has been a chapel, an apothecary's, a convent and a home; since the late 19th century it has belonged to the Sumerano family. You tour the main room, the bedroom, the dining room, the two kitchens, the staircase, the upper floor and the garden, with authentic furniture and objects.
It is open from November to March from 10:00 to 12:45 and from 15:30 to 18:00, and from April to October from 10:00 to 12:45 and from 15:30 to 18:30. The single ticket costs €2.50. Telephone: +39 080 432 6030.
Getting there and parking
Alberobello is an hour by car from Bari, about 56 km. Leave the car outside the old town and continue on foot: the two trulli districts are explored on foot and face each other. Without a car, Alberobello has a station on the Ferrovie del Sud Est line that runs from Bari to Martina Franca.
Tips
- Start at 9:00 Walk the Rione Monti before the coaches arrive, and leave the Trullo Sovrano for 10:00, when it opens.
- Cross to the Aia Piccola After the Rione Monti, the district opposite is quieter and shows the trulli as homes.
- Come back at sunset If you sleep in the town, the low light and the empty districts make for a different walk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Trullo Sovrano?
€2.50, single ticket.
What time does it open?
From 10:00 to 12:45 and from 15:30 to 18:00 in winter, and until 18:30 from April to October.
How much time do I need in Alberobello?
About two hours for the two districts and the Trullo Sovrano, without hurrying.
Can I go with a pushchair?
In the Aia Piccola yes; the Rione Monti has slopes and steps, and a baby carrier works better.
With young childrenAs a familyWith a dog
