Visitors to a tiny Italian town claim it’s so charming that walking the streets is like stepping into a “fantasy book”. Known as the “the land of dwarf houses” Alberobello is a small town in the more famous region of Puglia.

Those who have made the journey say it leaves a lasting impression as it’s hard to believe that its unique houses – pretty white structures called trulli with conical roofs – are “actually real”.

A tourism site for the area – alberobellotourism.com – explains more about the town that is known as one of the most beautiful in Italy, with its trulli commune being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

It said: “Alberobello is a small Italian town like any other at a first glance. The streets are narrow and hilly, houses are white, the weather is pleasant and life is slow.

“But if you take a closer look to some of the houses, you will think you landed in a fantasy book. Small houses with conical roofs are dotted everywhere around you.

“Upon closer investigation, you will find that these small dwarf houses are actually real and people still live in them.”

Julie, a travel expert at Earth Trekkers, noted that a trip to the commune – which has just over 10,000 residents – gives tourists all the culture they expect from the country.

She said: “Have you ever seen photos of a place and think ‘that can’t be real’? Well, that’s what we thought when we first saw photos of Alberobello. This tiny town looks like it has been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.

“Alberobello is famous for its trulli, small round buildings with conical roofs made out of stone. Stroll the hilly maze of streets, shop for souvenirs, enjoy the view across the rooftop terraces, and fill your camera’s memory card with photos of this enchanting town.”

Travel bloggers unite in their praise for the town – and tourists who have made the trip also wax lyrical about it on travel review sites such as Tripadsvisor.

One said: “It is definitely a worthwhile day trip and the experience has somewhat of a fantasy feel about it.

“You must take photos, people back home will not believe you unless they can see the truilli for themselves!”

Another impressed visitor said it was “as close to a fairy-tale village as you will ever find” with another fan adding it is a “fairytale town” and “magical”.