I recently went to Puglia on assignment to check out some of the different styles of accommodation and to explore the Salento Coast with Yuniquly. I’ve never been before, and while the different regions of Puglia has different history and architecture, there was one thing on my list to see: the iconic Trulli houses of Alberobello.

What are Trulli (singular: Trullo)?

A Trullo is a traditional architecture style in the Itria Valley of Puglia. This dry stone house is built with large hard limestone or calcareous tufa ‘bricks’ stacked in a method where the weight of each stone supports the next, so no sealing agent such as cement is used in the construction of a trullo. The roof is built in the same way, using flat stones that spiral upwards to create the iconic cone shape.

Originally used as agricultural store houses on the fields, larger trulli were built to become permanent housing of the farmers and families. When you are in the Itria Valley, you can see the points of the roofs visible scattered among the treeline, but it is in the town of Alberobello that the trulli are prominent.

Most trullo are built with double layer of walls so they are naturally insulated against the heat and cold. In the centre of Alberobello, the roofs of the trulli are painted with symbols of the owner’s choosing, to mark where they live (I mean, they all do look the same!) as well as what they like or believe in.

How to get to Alberobello?

The trulli of Alberobello is certainly one of the highlights of a trip to Puglia, so when you are on the heel of Italy, make sure you pop in to browse among the pretty trulli!

While there are small regional airports dotted around Puglia, you are more likely to get a flight into one of the two main airports: Bari and Brindisi. Then it is about an hour’s drive from either airport to Alberobello. There is also a direct bus from Bari centre as well but I don’t believe it is very regular.

Alternatively, if you are already in Italy – take the train! There is a regional train station at Alberobello.

Touring in Puglia

Alternatively – if you are coming to Puglia anyway, why not take the time and tour by bike? Local company Yuniqly offers active travellers the chance to bike, hike, run or swim (unique!) their way around Puglia. Depending on what you want to do and where you want to see, there is always an option. Plus – get fit at the same time!

Why not stay in a Trullo?

For the assignment I got to stay in four different styles of accommodation, from a restored palazzo (Palazzo Ducale Venturi), to a boutique clifftop hotel (Marenea Suite Hotel), to a Masseria-themed celebrity resort (Borgo Egnazia). However, my most memorable night was spent in an authentic self-contained trullo – Trullo Natu.

I enjoyed its tranquil surroundings, located 5km away from the centre of Alberobello, so that while you are still within close proximity to the attraction you can retreat to your own little trullo heaven.

The trullo contains two bedrooms, one with a double bed and another with two single beds, are perfect for either a couple or a family of four (or for one person, if you are flying solo like me) and there is a fully equipped kitchen and an outdoors dining area in case you didn’t want to eat out in one of the great restaurants in Alberobello.

Trullo Natu currently doesn’t have their own website yet, but you can check them out on their Instagram page: @trullo_natu_