Local Area
Alberobello
A Unesco World Heritage Site, the old town centre is entirely composed of trulli. The Rione Monti, a maze of narrow winding streets with over 1,000 trulli, is the oldest part of the town, along with the Rione Aia Piccola. This area is home to the Casa Pezzolla, a complex of 15 interconnected trulli that today houses the Museo del Territorio, and the Trullo Sovrano which stages performances and concerts. Alberobello's churches are even shaped like trulli.
Alberobello has many fine cafes and restaurants, you will find some of our favourites in our Puglia section. It lies a pleasant 15 minute drive from our Trulli
Martina Franca
The main town of the Valle d'Itria, the old town has beautiful Baroque architecture, from the era of the Spanish Bourbon's who ruled Puglia from Naples until the 1860's. Highlights of the historic centre include the characteristic white houses that wind their way up the small, twisting streets, and the sumptuous Ducal Palace, Palazzo Martucci, Palazzo dell’Università, Palazzo Motolese, Palazzo Maggi, and Palazzo Ancona; and the beautiful Basilica of San Martino . With a rich heritage in food, we would definitely suggest you explore the local bars, restaurants, cafes and pizzerias.
You will find some of our favourites in our Puglia section. It lies an easy 15 minute drive from our Trulli.
Locorotondo
Locorotondo, with its charming, circular centre and characteristic white houses, sits high on the plateau known as the Murge dei Trulli.
Its name (“round place”) is based on the characteristic circular form of the town’s historic centre. Its origins date to around 1000 AD, when farmers built a number of simple cottages, including typical “cummerse” (small houses with pitched roofs), on the hill top.
Rising above the centre’s expanse of pure white houses, are the bell towers of the town's many churches. The Wine Trail through the Itria Valley stops off at Locorotondo, which produces an excellent DOC white wine.
The old center has a number of small bistros and pizzeria.
You will find some of our favourites in our Puglia section. It lies an easy 15 minute drive from our Trulli, and can be clearly seen from Trullo della Selva Piccolo across the valley.
Cisternino
Perched on the Murgia dei Trulli, Cisternino is one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Towns. Here you can wander around narrow streets paved with “chianche” (typical limestone paving stones) and feast on grilled meat at a “fornello pronto” (a butchers' shop with a dining area where the meat is cooked). Facing onto the Itria Valley, it is fully pedestrianised and lovely to walk around in the day or evening, and the medieval layout is almost completely intact, There are many historical residences to admire : the Governor’s Palace, a beautiful example of baroque architecture; the 16th century Bishop’s Palace; Palazzo Amati; Palazzo Lagravinese; and Palazzo Ricci-Capece with its Wind Tower.
Cisternino is a 25 minute drive from the Trulli, through a lovely valley with fruit & olive trees, and vines.
Ostuni
Ostuni, theWhite Town , rises high above the coastal plain and is a renowned tourist destination. It boasts a medieval centre, rich with alleys and whitewashed houses, in a maze of streets which recalls an Arab Kasbah. Full of sloping stairs, courtyards and small squares, full of geraniums, craft shops, typical restaurants and small shops.
Ostuni is a 45 minute drive from The Trulli, but just 20 minutes from Cisternino if you are exploring this part of the Valle d'Itria
Lecce
Called “the Florence of the South,” Lecce is the provincial capital of the Salento area, only 12 km (7.5 miles) away from the Adriatic Sea. The city, was known to its Roman rulers as Lupiae. Today, it is a magnificent example of baroque architecture, revealed on the portals of its palaces and on the facades of the many churches that line the streets inside the city's three ancient gates: Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta Napoli.
The common factor in the city’s characteristic baroque style is the local “Lecce stone”, so soft and malleable, that master stonecutters were able to create beautiful stone embroidery. The best example of this style is represented by the facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce and by the spectacular Piazza Duomo, home to a soaring bell tower, bishop’s palace, and the lovely Palazzo del Seminario. The Roman Amphitheatre, adjacent to the central Piazza Sant’Oronzo, offers an intriguing insight into the city’s early history.
Lecce is about 1hr 20 minutes from our Trulli, but a lovely route takes you through the Manduria Wine region.
