Why go
The Itria Valley, also known as the Valley of the Trulli, extends across the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. The Ministry of Tourism describes it as a karst depression that begins where the Murge end and finishes where Salento starts, dotted with white towns such as Locorotondo, Cisternino and Martina Franca and, above all, with trulli, which appear everywhere in the countryside and not only in Alberobello.
The reason to come is the landscape as a whole. Pugliapromozione's mini-guide speaks of a countryside lived in all year round, with dry-stone walls enclosing vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can see; the regional portal adds historic masserie turned into places to stay, ancient olive groves, pastures and, towards the coast, fossil dunes and beaches. The territory of the Itria Valley local action group, which includes Cisternino, Fasano, Locorotondo and Martina Franca, covers more than five hundred square kilometres from the Ionian balcony to the Adriatic coast.
It is a destination to inhabit for a few days rather than to rush through: each town has its own character, and the countryside linking them is as much part of the journey as the squares and monuments.
Sources: Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — La Valle d'Itria: i luoghi da non perdere · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Pugliapromozione — miniguida Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei Trulli · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei trulli · Regione Puglia — GAL Valle d'Itria
History
The valley's history is written in its rural buildings. The Ministry of Tourism recalls the origin attributed to the trulli: a fifteenth-century edict of the Kingdom of Naples taxing every new building is said to have led the counts of Conversano to have farmers build dry-stone shelters that could be dismantled easily in case of inspection. Over time the technique was refined, and in Alberobello the switch to mortar came only at the end of the eighteenth century; since 1996 the Trulli of Alberobello have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The towns tell other chapters. Locorotondo, called Luogorotondo until the mid-nineteenth century, grew up around the year 1000 with its pitched-roof houses, the cummerse; Cisternino was reborn in the Middle Ages around an abbey of Basilian monks. Martina Franca owes its baroque face to the Caracciolo family, which according to the Ministry of Tourism held the fief for more than three hundred years, until 1827, and built the Ducal Palace.
In the countryside, the masserie, many of them fortified, bear witness to centuries of farming, and the production of cured meats such as capocollo, appreciated in the Kingdom of Naples as early as the eighteenth century according to the regional mini-guide, still links the fragno oak woods to the table.
Sources: Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — La Valle d'Itria: i luoghi da non perdere · UNESCO — The Trulli of Alberobello · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Cisternino · Pugliapromozione — miniguida Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei Trulli
What to see
Each town offers a theme. In Alberobello the Monti and Aia Piccola districts hold more than a thousand trulli, with the two-storey Trullo Sovrano and Casa Pezzolla, fifteen interconnected trulli housing the Museo del Territorio. Locorotondo, an Orange Flag town, curls in a circle on its hill with the cummerse and the panoramic balcony locals call the 'lungomare'; from via Nardelli the Templars' Staircase descends through the vineyards.
Martina Franca is the valley's baroque capital: the Ducal Palace with rooms frescoed by Domenico Carella, the basilica of San Martino and the semicircular piazza Maria Immacolata. Cisternino keeps an intimate medieval centre, with the Porta Grande tower, the mother church of San Nicola and the belvedere over the valley from piazza Garibaldi.
The national portal also includes Castellana Grotte in the valley, with the route through the karst caves from the Grave to the White Cave, and Ostuni, the White City, the only one with an outlet to the sea. Between towns, the countryside with its scattered trulli, dry-stone walls and monumental olive trees is itself something to look at, perhaps first from a viewpoint and then up close at a single building.
Sources: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Alberobello · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — La Valle d'Itria: i luoghi da non perdere · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Martina Franca · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Cisternino · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Regione Puglia — GAL Valle d'Itria
Food and wine
The valley's table comes from the countryside and the butcher's shops. Capocollo di Martina Franca, a Slow Food Presidium, is made in Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino: the meat of the pork neck meets salt, cooked wine must and spices, and is then smoked over fragno oak and almond husks; the stated production season runs from September to May. The Bombetta di Martina Franca, a roll of capocollo filled with cheese and cooked on a spit, has its area of origin in the valley according to the regional atlas of traditional products.
In the towns, especially Cisternino, the 'fornelli pronti' let you choose meat at the butcher's counter and have it cooked on the spot, with bombette, gnummareddi and rolls.
The white wines bear the names of the towns. Locorotondo DOP covers Locorotondo, Cisternino and part of Fasano, with a white from Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano and single-variety, sparkling and passito versions; Martina or Martina Franca DOP covers Martina Franca, Crispiano, Alberobello and part of Ceglie Messapica and Ostuni. Towards the Brindisi area, Collina di Brindisi DOP olive oil includes Cisternino, Fasano and Ostuni.
Sources: Fondazione Slow Food — Capocollo di Martina Franca · Atlante dei prodotti tradizionali di Puglia — Bombetta · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Cisternino · Regione Puglia — Locorotondo DOP · Regione Puglia — Martina o Martina Franca DOP · Commissione europea, eAmbrosia — Collina di Brindisi DOP
Things to do
The valley lends itself to slow travel. The Ministry of Tourism suggests an itinerary that starts in Martina Franca, takes in Locorotondo, Alberobello and the Castellana Caves and ends in Cisternino with dinner at the grills; for cyclists, the Apulian Aqueduct cycle route crosses the valley via Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Cisternino, Ostuni and Ceglie Messapica.
The Itria Valley Ecomuseum, a widespread museum across Alberobello, Cisternino, Fasano, Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Monopoli, documents the crafts of stone, iron, wood and ceramics and organises nature walks to discover the lame and stone gardens. The national portal also mentions the area's educational farms, with workshops, fruit picking and tastings suited to families.
Nature offers further days out: the Pianelle woods near Martina Franca, with more than fifteen kilometres of trails; the I Giardini di Pomona botanical conservatory in Cisternino, with hundreds of fruit tree varieties; towards the sea, the Dune Costiere park and the Torre Guaceto reserve, which the regional mini-guide suggests exploring by bike and on foot or by seawatching.
Sources: Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — La Valle d'Itria: i luoghi da non perdere · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Cisternino · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Ecomuseo di Valle d'Itria · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Riserva naturale regionale Bosco delle Pianelle · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Conservatorio botanico I Giardini di Pomona · Pugliapromozione — miniguida Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei Trulli
When to go
The valley can be visited all year, and each season has its events. In summer Martina Franca hosts the Festival della Valle d'Itria, devoted to opera and vocal music: the 52nd edition took place from 14 July to 2 August 2026, and those planning an opera trip should start from the next edition's programme once it is published. In Cisternino, Clock Square becomes an open-air living room in summer.
In winter the Ministry of Tourism recalls the living nativity scene among the trulli of Alberobello in December; on Good Friday a living Passion is staged there, and on Easter Monday the people of Cisternino go on pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Ibernia. On 23 April Locorotondo celebrates its patron Saint George.
Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for walking and cycling among trulli and vineyards: autumn brings the grape harvest, and the capocollo production season stated by Slow Food runs from September to May. Event dates change every year and should be checked at the towns' info-points.
Sources: Festival della Valle d'Itria — programma 2026 · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Cisternino · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Cisternino · Comune di Locorotondo — Chiesa Madre di San Giorgio · Fondazione Slow Food — Capocollo di Martina Franca
Getting there and around
The valley has two air gateways, the airports of Bari and Brindisi managed by Aeroporti di Puglia; to reach the towns the regional tourism portal suggests private transfers and, from Cisternino towards Brindisi, COTRAP consortium intercity buses.
By train, according to the regional portal, the towns' stations mainly serve local links: for long journeys you go via Bari for Alberobello and Locorotondo, via Taranto for Martina Franca, and via Brindisi or Bari for Cisternino and Ostuni. COTRAP intercity buses connect the towns with each other, and STP Brindisi lines also serve Cisternino and Ostuni.
To really enjoy the countryside, a hired car, scooter or bike is advisable, services the regional portal lists in all the main towns. The Apulian Aqueduct cycle route, which starts in Martina Franca and forms a loop around the valley, is the calmest way to move between Locorotondo, Cisternino and Ostuni. The historic centres are all best explored on foot.
Sources: Aeroporti di Puglia — Aeroporto di Bari · Aeroporti di Puglia — Aeroporto di Brindisi · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Cisternino · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Alberobello · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Locorotondo · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Martina Franca · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Ostuni
Where to stay
Your choice of base changes the trip. The regional portal notes that many historic masserie in the valley and on the Fasano plain have been turned into places to stay, some with gardens of aromatic herbs and panoramic terraces; the regional mini-guide recommends dispersed hotels in the historic centres, such as Locorotondo's cummerse, to those who want to stay close to local life. A masseria offers space and quiet, a town the chance to walk out in the evening.
As an identified reference for a countryside base we mention Masseria Cervarolo, which presents itself as a boutique hotel in contrada Cervarolo, on provincial road 14 between Ostuni and Martina Franca; its website also documents a restaurant and seasonal dining. This is an editorial mention, not a declared Apulica partner: we do not present past price lists as current rates, and a stay needs dates and an offer for those dates.
Staying several nights at the same base cuts the time spent packing and moving: the valley is compact, and the main towns are all within a day trip.
Sources: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei trulli · Pugliapromozione — miniguida Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei Trulli · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Locorotondo · Masseria Cervarolo — contatti ufficiali · Masseria Cervarolo — cucina e notizie della struttura
Nearby
Around the valley open different landscapes. Towards the Adriatic, Ostuni and the plain of ancient olive trees lead to the sea, with the Dune Costiere park and the archaeological area of Egnazia, where the regional portal invites you to swim near the excavations.
Inland, Putignano, which the Ministry of Tourism counts among the valley's towns, is the town of Carnival and the Grotta del Trullo; Castellana Grotte offers its great underground route; Ceglie Messapica and Carovigno are pointed out by the regional mini-guide as stops for food lovers.
Towards the Ionian Sea, beyond the Pianelle woods, Crispiano leads into the land of the hundred masserie and Taranto into the city of two seas with its National Archaeological Museum. The Torre Guaceto reserve, on the Brindisi coast, completes the picture with a marine protected area among dunes and wetlands.
Sources: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Ostuni · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei trulli · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — Valle d'Itria · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Putignano · Italia.it, Ministero del Turismo — La Valle d'Itria: i luoghi da non perdere · Pugliapromozione — miniguida Valle d'Itria e Murgia dei Trulli · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Riserva naturale regionale Bosco delle Pianelle · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Crispiano · Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Taranto
Local tourist information
Local tourist offices help with opening times, events and transport on the day.
- Info-Point Alberobello (Pro Loco) · Via Monte Nero, 70011 Alberobello (BA) · +39 379 2987173 · info@prolocoalberobello.it
Source: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Info-Point Alberobello · checked on - Info-point Locorotondo · Via Morelli 24, 70010 Locorotondo (BA) · +39 080 4312788 · infopointlocorotondo@gmail.com
Source: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Info-point Locorotondo · checked on - Info-point Martina Franca · Piazza XX Settembre, 74015 Martina Franca (TA) · +39 080 4116554 · info.martinafranca@viaggiareinpuglia.it
Source: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Info-point Martina Franca · checked on - Info-point Cisternino · Via Castello 22, 72014 Cisternino (BR) · +39 391 4387131 · turismo@comune.cisternino.br.it
Source: Viaggiare in Puglia, Regione Puglia — Info-point Cisternino · checked on
Where to stay
In the municipality of Locorotondo the national database of the Ministry of Tourism lists 474 accommodation businesses with a verified CIN code: 6 hotels, 143 other licensed accommodation and 325 other types such as B&Bs and private rentals.
Licensed businesses from the official list of Regione Puglia, each with a checked national CIN code: matching municipality and category. Private individuals are not listed. Check directly with the property before booking.
AFFITTACAMERE MASSERIA APRILE
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400024393
Angolo di Puglia
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400064122
CASEDDE -DIMORE A TRULLI E VOLTE-
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400023126
CASOLARE DI POZZOMASIELLO
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400026269
CIVICODODICI
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400101644
DIMORA CALELLA DI D'ALESSIO ANTONIA
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400076350
DIMORA SAN NICOLA
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400094614
DOLCE VITA
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400119445
Dimora Graziana Exclusive
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400062295
Dimora d'Itria
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400093617
I TRULLI DI FIGAZZANO
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400087194
IL TRULLO DI SANT'ANNA
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400110831
LOCORO' 1764
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400122188
TRULLI DELLE SETE
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400060551
TRULLI DI MALZO
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400026613
TRULLI DI POZZOMASIELLO
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400026614
TRULLI DON ANTONIO
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400086624
TRULLI DONNA ISABELLA
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400025537
TRULLI MACCO MACCO
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400075448
TRULLI MANCINELLA
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400114905
TRULLO FALCO
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400123461
Trulli's Piccoli
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400056911
Trullo Cinquenoci
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400117406
VERDEACQUA SUITE
Guest rooms · Website
CIN IT072025B400054254
VILLA CURRI
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400064135
trullo mbs
Guest rooms
CIN IT072025B400096482
AGRITURISMO MASSERIA APRILE
Farm stay
CIN IT072025B500021045
Coppola di Seta
Farm stay
CIN IT072025B500080219
1783 DIMORA D'EPOCA B&B
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400051259
AGROSILENTE
B&B
CIN IT072025B400109320
B&B LA COLLINETTA
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400089466
B&B VILLA MAGGI
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400075607
B. & B. TRULLI ISAGO
B&B
CIN IT072025B400022559
BORGO SAN FRANCESCO
B&B
CIN IT072025B400100659
BORGO SAN FRANCESCO TRULLI HOUSE
B&B
CIN IT072025B400123028
DIMORA RITUNNO
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400032959
Dimora Graziana 1909
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400062190
Dimora del Tenente
B&B
CIN IT072025B400103277
I TRULLI DI BADI'
B&B
CIN IT072025B400102806
IL FIORE NEL BORGO
B&B
CIN IT072025B400045124
MASSERIA NARDELLI
B&B
CIN IT072025B400060332
Martinatrullirelais
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400060917
Operà B&B
B&B
CIN IT072025B400097315
PETRACHIARA
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400036631
Pignarè B&B
B&B
CIN IT072025B400071198
SERRALTA
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400022251
TENUTA DEL LAURO
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400025943
TRULLANDIA
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400060730
TRULLI DAMARI
B&B · Website
CIN IT072025B400106337
TRULLO DI SIMONA
B&B
CIN IT072025B400075236
Trulli e Cummerse
B&B
CIN IT072025B400121382
VILLA AURELIA SUITES AND APARTMENTS
B&B
CIN IT072025B400060035
mbs b & b
B&B
CIN IT072025B400071194
CAMPING -Valle d'itria-
Campsite · ★
CIN IT072025B100097247
ACRES ITRIA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400073989
ALMAPETRA TRULLI RESORT
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400041828
ANNALOCOS
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400025119
CASA SILVANA
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400031806
CASA VACANZE DI CARRIERI PIERA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400023998
CIVICODIECI
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400101662
Casa del Carbonaio
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400089200
Casetta Girasole
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400100657
DA CONCAVO E CONVESSO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400075235
DIMORA U CURDUNN
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400026895
Dimora Iconica
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400092597
Domus San Giovanni
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400057251
Due cuori e una casetta
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400063631
I TRULLI DEL MULINO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400024119
LA DIMORA DI PEPPE
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400107181
LA DIMORA NEL BORGO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400126825
LA PERGOLA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400024986
LIBERAMENTE - TRULLI & QUIETE
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400090154
LOCOROTONDO STONE HOUSE
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400105694
La Casedda
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400125081
Lamie / Villa di Trulli Escape
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400126103
MASSERIA SEMERARO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400109200
MASSERIA SERIO DI GRASSI NICOLA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400020910
Masseria di Trulli Escape - App.1
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400126096
Masseria di Trulli Escape - App.2
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400126104
NA VOLTE TRULLI E QUIETE
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400027452
PALAZZO MARCONI
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400112400
Palazzo Gentile
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400092745
STARS HOUSE
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400032092
TRUDDHI CASA E CUCINA
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400020920
TRULLI CONVERTINI DI MARIA MARINOTTI
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400023096
TRULLI DI ROSA
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400031157
TRULLI DONNA ISABELLA 2
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400109755
TRULLI FRANCESCA CICLOVIA DI CATERINA CIANCIARUSO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400034176
TRULLI LA QUERCIA DEL NONNO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400098404
TRULLI LOCO DI ANTONELLA MANDOLLA
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400048829
TRULLI MANUELA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400051651
TRULLI MANUELA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400093387
TRULLI MANUELA "IL FRAGNO"
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400086746
TRULLI SANTA CROCE
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400032075
TRULLI SCARDINO
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400080179
TRULLINO PUGLIARMONIA
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400121848
Trulli Angela
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400063630
Trulli Papavero
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400100578
Trulli di Trulli Escape
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400126106
Trullo Cinquenoci Suite
Holiday home · Website
CIN IT072025B400089728
Trullo Rocchelle
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400094582
Trullo il Mulino
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400112664
VILLA BEATRICE
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400045075
VILLA CARAMIA
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400111432
Villa Vittoria
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400128482
trullo casalini
Holiday home
CIN IT072025B400095700
ALBERGO DIFFUSO SOTTO LE CUMMERSE
Hotel · ★★★★
CIN IT072025A100059693
HOTEL RELAIS IL PALMENTO
Hotel · ★★★★★
CIN IT072025A100037882
Hotel Donna Crescenza
Hotel · ★★★★
CIN IT072025A100095831
LEONARDO TRULLI RESORT
Hotel · ★★★★★
CIN IT072025A100122914
MASSERIA GROFOLEO
Hotel · ★★★★ · Website
CIN IT072025A100027709
OTTOLIRE RESORT
Hotel · ★★★★ · Website
CIN IT072025A100035059
ELITE
Residence
CIN IT072025B400120870
TRULLI DAMOR
Residence
CIN IT072025B400111936
Sources: Regione Puglia – ARET Pugliapromozione (DMS), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-12 · Ministero del Turismo – Banca Dati Strutture Ricettive (dashboard pubblica), 2026-10-12
YOUR JOURNEY
How to shape a journey here
We can design a stay with a countryside base, wine and charcuterie encounters, village walks and a coastal finale: accommodation, dining and availability belong in a quote for your dates.
Talk to us about it
.jpg){kind=link}
