Alberobello in southern Italy’s Puglia region captures the imagination with its distinctive trulli houses. These structures were built using a dry-stone technique passed down over centuries, without mortar or cement, and their unique form comes from layer upon layer of limestone nestled from nearby fields. Alberobello’s trulli are so remarkable that in 1996 the historic center was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where more than 1,600 of these buildings still stand. Walking the narrow lanes, visitors can look up at the patterned roof symbols that many believe offer protection or express local beliefs.

Rione Monti, the town’s larger trulli quarter, invites exploration with its winding streets lined with trulli converted into cafés, craft shops and galleries. Here, days can begin with an espresso under the stone cones and continue with browsing for handmade ceramics, terracotta whistles or regional taralli biscuits in boutique shops.

Beyond the trulli and the tables, annual festivals give Alberobello a lively pulse. In late September, the town honors Saints Cosma and Damiano with processions, fireworks and street celebrations that draw families and visitors together. These events mix religious tradition with joyful celebration, offering a vivid look at community life here. Whether lingering over a glass of wine as the sunset bathes the cones in golden light or wandering the quiet lanes at dawn, the experience of Alberobello stays with travellers long after they depart.