This Charming Italian Village Is Full Of Hobbit-Like Houses
By Aimee Long
VACATIONS
Long before author J.R.R. Tolkien ever wrote about hobbits and their underground homes, the residents of Alberobello, Italy, were creating their own cozy holes.
Located in the Itria Valley, Alberobello holds thousands of UNESCO World Heritage Site buildings, the limestone cylindrical structures known as "trulli."
These buildings are crafted to keep in warmth and keep out dampness. Their roofs are shaped into their iconic pinnacle style using stones of varying sizes and shapes.
The white symbols painted on many of their conical roofs are a mix of religious and folkloric symbols that are said to ward off evil.
Alberobello is usually overshadowed by cities like Rome, Naples, and Florence but is growing in popularity due to its world-renowned architecture.
The town is small and has few attractions other than the trulli. You can easily visit Alberobello in just a few hours, taking a day trip from nearby cities.