Still recovering from that ridiculously scenic sunrise in Matera, we packed up the car and hit the road again. The next stop on my south of Italy road trip was the dreamy whitewashed town of Alberobello, Puglia – home to Italy’s famous trulli houses.

Where is Puglia?

For anyone not great with Italian geography, Alberobello is tucked in the region of Puglia, down in the “heel” of Italy’s boot. It’s a part of the country that feels slower, warmer, and more authentic, where every hilltop seems to glow under the southern sun.

Arriving in Alberobello

We rolled into town mid-morning and met up with my parents, who were just as excited to explore. First things first, coffee and something sweet. We found a little café with outdoor tables framed by hanging flowers, and I ordered a peach melba so perfect it deserved its own photoshoot.

Mia and Caius shared a croissant the size of their heads while my dad chatted with the barista in broken Italian. It was one of those simple travel moments that felt like pure gold – no rush, just family, laughter, and sunshine.

The Magic of the Trulli

Alberobello is the land of the trulli – hundreds of white stone houses with cone-shaped roofs clustered together like a fairytale village. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been protected since 1996, and wandering through it feels a little like stepping back in time.

The main areas, Rione Monti and Aia Piccola, are where you’ll find most of the trulli. While some are still homes, many have become tiny shops selling everything from handmade ceramics and olive oil to slightly random trinkets (yes, even crystal wands and plastic toys).

Mia and Caius were instantly drawn to a stall selling wooden slide whistles. My parents bought them one each, and before long, the streets of Alberobello were filled with cheerful tooting that echoed off the stone roofs. I couldn’t even be annoyed – their joy fit perfectly with the mood of the town.

We spent a few hours just wandering. I loved how the rooftops stacked like sugar cones against the bright blue sky, each topped with its own painted symbol. The smell of espresso and wild thyme drifted through the air. Everywhere I looked, I felt like I was walking through a painting.

2025 Travel Tips for Alberobello

If you’re planning your own Italian road trip, here’s what’s new and helpful in 2025:

• Parking: Paid parking near the trulli zone (Zone B) costs around €6 per day. Arrive early to snag a shady spot.
• Entry: The streets are free to explore. A few private trulli museums cost about €3–€5 and are open roughly 9 AM to 7 PM.
• Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon when the tour buses thin out and the golden light hits those white walls just right.

Northbound to Molfetta

After a few final photos and one last gelato (because, Italy), we hit the road again for the next stop on our Puglia road trip. A couple of hours later, we stopped at Puglia Outlet Village in Molfetta for lunch. The centre has been revamped and now stays open from 10 AM to 9 PM on weekends.

It was strangely quiet for such a big outlet. We didn’t shop much but found a casual trattoria inside serving pizza al taglio and fresh salads. It was exactly the kind of easy stop a road trip needs – nothing fancy, just good food and space to stretch our legs.

A Night in Termoli

By late afternoon, we reached Termoli, a peaceful seaside town on Italy’s east coast. Our hotel overlooked the Adriatic, and even though we were too tired to go out for dinner, we made it a fun night in. Mia and Caius thought it was hilarious that dinner was ham sandwiches and fruit in bed – pure road-trip glamour.

The next morning, the hotel breakfast surprised us. Proper cappuccinos, homemade cakes, and the freshest fruit. It’s amazing how Italian hotels can turn something so simple into something special.

The Long Drive to Perugia

We packed up again, leaving the heel of Italy, and continued north, following the Adriatic before veering inland toward Umbria. The drive from Alberobello to Perugia takes about 6.5 hours without stops, but we took our time. Somewhere around the halfway point, we made our own Vegemite sandwiches – an Aussie comfort in the middle of Italy – and laughed about how much the locals would probably disapprove.

By late afternoon, we arrived in Perugia, checked into our hotel, and finally caught up with my parents again for dinner.

Evening in Perugia

Perugia is one of those cities that doesn’t try too hard. The medieval lanes climb steeply through the hills, every corner hiding another gelateria or wine bar. As the sun set, the pink stone walls glowed. We wandered together, letting the kids chase pigeons through the piazza before settling into a tiny trattoria with candlelight and pasta so good it nearly made me cry.

Perugia is famous for two things: Renaissance artist Raphael, who was born here, and Baci chocolates, made by the local Perugina factory. If you’ve got time, you can visit the Casa del Cioccolato Perugina, where tours run daily in 2025 for about €12 (and yes, there are plenty of free samples).

The Perfect Southern Italy Road Trip Stretch

In just two days, we’d covered three towns – Alberobello, Termoli, and Perugia – and seen three completely different sides of Italy: the storybook trulli of southern Puglia, the sleepy coastal charm of Termoli, and the chocolate-scented hills of Umbria.

It was everything I love about slow travel – family time, messy moments, roadside surprises, and beauty around every corner.

Next stop: Florence. But that’s another story.