Alberobello, in the region of Puglia in Southern Italy, is a strange and picturesque destination, which is becoming an important fixture on travel itineraries, as well as independent travelers. The small town has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage site for its unusual districts of trulli, the characteristic whitewashed conical-roofed houses of the area. Looking like igloos, constructed out of pure stone, the beehive-shaped structures, have origins that dates back to the 15th century and maybe older. You can't find trulli anywhere else in the world! When the Emperor Frederick II built this castle near Bari in the 13th century, he imbued it with symbolic significance, as reflected in the location, the mathematical and astronomical precision of the layout and the perfectly regular shape. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Castel del Monte is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.