Once you’re inside you can wander along the cobblestoned streets, and pop into the many tiny shops, houses and villas that are relatively well maintained. Pompeii was a tight knit community, people lived shoulder to shoulder with their neighbours, and I could imagine just how busy and lively it must have been before the volcano erupted and covered the town with ash and lava.

The streets all lead to a large piazza in the center of the town which used to house a temple and outdoor market. On the outskirts of the town, and furthest from the entrance to the site is the auditorium. If you look down towards the sea you can enjoy a fabulous view of the bay of Naples, whereas behind you is a hazy view of Mount Vesuvius , a quiet reminder of its impressive power.

ALBEROBELLO

As we drove away from the coast and into the Itria Valley, we started noticing some small, white and grey stone huts scattered around the countryside and on the side of the road. They are the world renowned Trulli, traditional Puglian homes dating back to the 4th century. They are made of limestone and the walls are painted white, they have grey conical roofs and some have painted symbols on them, creating an enchanting effect. These dwellings, now a popular tourist attraction, have humble origins, and were built when the construction of stable dwellings was highly-taxed; the inhabitants of the region thus boasted a great capacity to adapt, and an exceptional cleverness in coming up with the idea for the Trulli, temporary houses built with the local stone.

Trulli are specific to central-southern Puglia and the most famous town with the most Trulli is Alberobello. This is where you can see 1,500 trulli grouped together to make up a community that looks like no other in Italy. It is so unique that it is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. The Trulli are homes, hotels, and boutiques. The largest Trullo in town has been converted into a museum. 

So of course, we had to stay in a Trullo while visiting Alberobello! We were lucky enough to stay at Angelo’s Trullo Anti’, a meticulously decorated Trullo with 2 bedrooms and a lovely patio area where we relaxed and enjoyed our meals. Bikes were supplied too, so we were able to discover Alberobello like a local. Trullo Anti’ was the perfect size for the four of us and needless to say, the girls loved the experience of staying in an almost child-size house.

The town of Alberobello is small and everything can be seen on foot or by bike. From the village with 1,500 Trulli, to the Trullo Sovrano museum and the Basilica of St. Cosmas & Damian, Alberobello is an enchanting place and I couldn’t recommend it enough. We enjoyed some delicious typical Puglian food such as orecchiette pasta, at the Trullo D’Oro and coffee and local pastries at the Central Bar. For lunch we went to the Antica Salumeria del Corso and stocked up on fresh local cheeses & a selection of cured meats, like prosciutto & bresaola, and some fresh bread, and enjoyed a picnic lunch in our patio garden.

The girls loved this enchanting fairytale town and we spent a full day discovering the Trulli village. Aside from some souvenir shops, there are many Trulli boutiques in the village selling traditional goodies from the region. Puglia is known for its wines, olive oil and beautiful ceramics. There are tile shops, ceramics stores, linen shops and specialty food shops with delicious wines and olive oil. I bought a beautiful ceramic olive oil bottle from Frantoio Muraglia hand painted with colourful rainbow stripes, which will look beautiful in my kitchen even after all the olive oil is gone.

Alberobello isn’t the only attraction worth a visit in the Itria Valley. During our stay in our charming Trullo, we explored some of the nearby historical towns and countryside, where old customs and religious traditions still live untouched.