If fairy tales had architects, they might've come up with something like Alberobello in Italy.

But instead of magic wands, it was limestone, mortar-free masonry and—according to some theories—a bit of tax evasion that built this town's signature homes: the trulli.

These are whitewashed stone houses topped with dry-stacked limestone roofs shaped like upside-down ice cream cones.

It's an ancient building technique, and in this case, a clever one.

Alberobello's trulli aren't hidden one-offs.

Entire districts—like Rione Monti and Aia Piccola—are packed with these quirky structures.

Some are still lived in, while others have been transformed into cafés, souvenir shops and pint-sized museums.

You'll even find a church built in trullo style.