Walk 3 - Beyond Alberobello walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Most visitors find plenty to explore in the centre of Alberobello. But this 12 km walk takes us out from the centre, to visit the outskirts and the countryside surrounding the town. We see relics of the past, and signs of modern prosperity; crumbling trulli and some luxury renovations, gardens, farms and two quarries, orchards, olive groves and rolling countryside. Our route follows mainly country roads and gravel tracks - it would also be suitable for cyclists.

The walk starts from Largo Martellotta, the broad street between the two main trulli zones in the centre of Alberobello. There is a (paying) car park on Largo Martellotta, or a free car park on Via Independenza 400 metres to the east, near the ring-road.

WALK

From the car park in Largo Martellotta we cross over the road at the pedestrian crossing and take Via Monte Nero uphill into the Rione Monti. We veer right past the Siamese trullo, and turn left uphill at a 5-way junction, following the sign to the ‘Chiesa a trullo’. We keep following these signs, first right then left at a T junction, and reach Via Monte Pertico, which leads us to the trullo church on our left.

We cross over the road beyond the church, and continue straight ahead into Via Bainsizza, which leads out of town past modern houses with well cared for gardens; after 250m we cross a by-pass. Follow the winding Via delle Neviere Vecchie through olive groves, vineyards and gardens, with groups of trulli and modern dwellings. After 650 metres just after the top of a hill (WP8) a minor road goes straight on while the main road bends sharp left, Point 1. We follow it left, now heading south-east. We have a good view across the countryside, with isolated trulli and walled tracks, most of which end at private properties.

The road continues to wind, until you reach a sharp turn left; to the right is a trullo with two modern gates set at right angles to each other on the bend, Point 2. We pass a cistern to the right and take the first road on the right 90 metres after the bend, up a hill and heading southwest. After 1km, after a sharp left bend, this joins a larger road at a bend. We turn right along this road for 150 metres. Where the main road turns right, we cross over it and follow the smaller road straight ahead. To our right we can see a large quarry. After 250m the road turns sharply left, opposite a newly-restored, palatial-looking trulli complex, Point 3.

We continue along this straight road for 700m, to a place where tracks cross our route, Point 4. The original route for this walk went to our right; unfortunately the track has become overgrown and impassable. However, if we have time for a detour, we can walk up the track to the crest of the rise, past a group of abandoned trulli on our left. Point 5. We are on the right which separated Noci, with the large cattle farms and woods in the sparsely populated south of the Murgia, from the intensely farmed countryside around Alberobello. From the ridge we have good views over the rolling countryside of the Murgia.

Returning to the cross-tracks we turn right (south) and continue for 200m along our original tarmac road, to a three-way junction. Here we fork right (west south west) and go downhill. In 500m it turns sharp right and the road becomes a track, then shortly afterwards bends left so we are continuing south west. In 550m we reach a T junction (WP9), and turn right (north).

In 400m we meet the main road to Mottola, SP78, just by a sign indicating the border between the regions of Bari and Taranto, Point 6. We continue north up the road until in 400m it bends sharply right (WP10), and we turn left onto a smaller road leading into a wood.

After another 200m of road, an unsurfaced track branches off to the right, Point 7. (WP11). Continue straight ahead along this peaceful track, ignoring a track from the left in 500m, and a track from the right from the village, 500m later (WP12). Continue straight ahead ignoring double tracks on your left plus continue uphill, we pass a water cistern on the right, then a pylon on the left. North of the pylon the track becomes overgrown for a short stretch, before widening out again as we go straight on through small olive groves and orchards to reach the railway crossing. The track bends sharply right to reach the level crossing, then bends round again on the far side to resume its original course, a design we see repeated at other railway crossings - no doubt a safety feature to prevent weary travellers blundering onto the tracks. The crossing barrier is automatically operated.

Shortly after the crossing we reach a broad country road (WP13) and turn right, heading East towards Alberobello. Between the quiet road and the main road to Noci that runs parallel and to the north, lies Foggie Traversa, an old cistern. Later we pass another quarry, on land just south of the railway. After about 1.5Km we join the main road, still heading east. Where the road bears right to pass under the railway, a narrow asphalt road leads us left, passing groups of trulli some with pretty gardens. At a T junction, turn sharp right (WP14).

The way to Alberobello leads mostly gently downhill between walls and olive groves. A chapel lies to the left, shortly before the level crossing, where the road curves sharply down into a dip to cross the track. Beyond, fields and gardens gradually give way to new houses and, closer to town, modern housing estates. Our road bends left and then merges into the Barsento road, which we follow downhill. At the roundabout on the outskirts of the old town, where the main road to Noci and Putignano crosses our route, we take Via De Amicis ahead, which leads us back to nearly Largo Martellotta and a much needed beer.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.