It is the only trullo with an elevated upper floor accessible by a staircase, a feature rare in traditional trulli architecture.
The structure was built by a priest, Cataldo Perta, as a residence for his family.
It was declared a National Monument in 1930.
The interior layout includes a central living space flanked by smaller alcoves that originally functioned as bedrooms.
Unlike typical dry-stone trulli, the walls of the Sovrano are held together with lime mortar, allowing for its larger height and complexity.
The original garden behind the trullo has been restored and is often used for cultural events and concerts.
During the 1800s, the building served as a pharmacy and later as a meeting place for the Carbonari, a secret revolutionary society.
Trullo Sovrano is the only trullo in Alberobello built with two stories. Constructed in the mid-18th century for the wealthy Perta family, it serves as a preserved living history museum. The structure features twelve cones and is notable for being built using mortar, unlike the dry-stone techniques used in smaller residential trulli. Its architecture marks a transition in local construction methods during the 1700s. The interior displays authentic 19th-century period furnishings, tools, and agricultural implements. It holds the title of a national monument, designated by the Italian Ministry of Culture. The building functions as an ethnographic site showcasing the domestic life of Alberobello’s historical middle class.
The staircase leading to the upper floor, which provides a unique perspective of the internal masonry.
Visit the upstairs room to see the difference in construction between the ground floor and the elevated level.
Check the rear garden area, which is often less crowded than the main interior rooms.
Read the placards detailing the specific tools used by the Perta family to better understand the ethnographic display.
Avoid rushing through the rooms; the most valuable details are in the small, partitioned alcoves often missed by hurried visitors.
Avoid touching the period artifacts or furniture; keep voices low to respect the museum environment.
