The tourist heart of Alberobello is a hillside neighbourhood of around 1,030 trulli, most of them concentrated along steep lanes that tumble down toward the valley. The whitewashed walls and grey stone cones stack up in every direction, which is exactly what draws the crowds — and there are plenty of them, especially from late spring through summer.
Despite the souvenir shops that occupy many of the ground floors, Rione Monti retains its power to astonish. Walk the back lanes away from the main drag and you will find quieter corners where cats sleep in doorways and the geometry of the rooftops becomes almost abstract. The light in the early morning and late afternoon is especially good for photography.