Puglia’s most famous tourist attraction is Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Famous for its conically roofed houses, called trulli, the city is steeped in history.

While trulli can be found scattered throughout Puglia, especially in the scenic Itria Valley, Alberobello is the only place you’ll find such a high concentration of the unique dwellings. From a hill above the city, you can overlook a sea of white limestone structures topped with conical roofs and finials. The city has more than 1,500 such houses, built in a mortarless style that dates to the 11th century.

According to legend, the dry-stone construction was developed in order to avoid taxes. The houses could be easily disassembled, so when villagers heard the tax collector was on the way, they’d quickly take apart the roof and the walls. (Only complete structures incurred taxes, not ruins or works in progress.) After the tax collector left, they’d rebuild, ready to deconstruct again when necessary.