Planning a romantic trip for two is one of the most exciting things that one can get busy with. Although there are many beautiful places to visit with your second half, we would like to focus your attention on the beautiful, fairy place in the corner of Europe, called Alberobello.
Alberobello is a small town in Apulia, Italy. It is notable that this place was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Although speaking of Italy we think of Rome or Venice there are also some small towns that should be included on the list of the best Italian destinations for a romantic trip. Among them appears to be beautiful Alberobello, which stands out for its cultural uniqueness and its archeological value.
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BEST SOUVENIRS YOU CAN BUY FROM ITALY
The Trulli of Alberobello
The Trulli of Alberobello are limestone dwellings and according to scholars these are very interesting samples of the archeology of the civilization in prehistoric Italy. It has been proved that the Trulli were built according to an old building technique that allowed creating such roofs by cultivating corbelled limestone. The fact that these fairy houses built of pure white limestone are still inhabited makes them even more special. There are so many things to speak about Alberobello Trulli after visiting this magical town. For example, the very first thing that you’ll notice once you get there is the large flower pots enriching the design of the roofs, the appetizing ivy and grape leaves hanging on the walls as well as the tiny, small windows framed by delicate bougainvillea that give a picturesque, fairy-tale like look to the entire town. It seems that the spirit of the archaic people still lives there. There is a mystic beauty hidden in the walls of this small and mysterious old little town.
It is not accidental that the streets of Alberobello are always full of visitors taking pictures of the exotic beauty of the town. Some of them seem to prefer buying all kinds of souvenirs. Referring to the latter we have to mention that the best souvenirs that you can buy in Alberobello are crafts and handmade jewelry, natural olive oil and even cheese.
The Unrevealed Secret of Alberobello
On the origin of the quaint houses the legends and the scientific statements are controversy. It is known that in the XV century, peasants were forbidden to build good houses without the permission of the landowner. When the lord came to the village, he only saw a pile of rubble. Sly farmers using horses quickly dismantled their ramshackle dwellings, and then easily built them again.
Studies carried out recently indicate that the tradition of the construction of such dwellings is linked with the Mycenaean civilization of the XV-XIII centuries BC. Mycenaean Greeks used to construct Trulli, who colonized the southern part of the peninsula. No wonder that the word “trullo” in Greek means “home”.
However it still remains an unrevealed mystery why these lovely houses with such architecture can be found only in the regions of Southern Italy. And the main question is why this style did not expand and develop in other provinces? Was there any cultural difference or emphasized diversity back then? No one knows yet.
As we mentioned, today Trulli of Alberobello remain residential. Some of them are equipped serving as mini museums and souvenir shops, while others are more than suitable for living and that’s why they’re usually rented by visitors.
Alberobello Cuisine, the Tourist’s Menu Guide
There are many fine restaurants in Trulli offering traditional dishes and introducing visitors it Italian cuisine. As you know a delicious meal is the cherry on the top of a delicious cake, being an unforgettable romantic day out in the town you have visited. Puglia’s cuisine is rustic, simple without any frills. Fresh ingredients including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, peas, beans, and numerous types of bread are just a part of Alberobello’s cuisine.
Also homemade pasta and flavors with olive oil are very typical. Vegetables and legumes are perfectly combined with chicory. Near Bari you can find chefs preparing their special pasta with orecchiette, while certain restaurants offer fresh oysters and mussels. Seafood here is being cooked in salt so it turns out very tender and tasty. The most famous fish soup in the region is made of dorado sea bass, squid, lobster and mussels. Sounds yummy!
