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There is probably nothing that signals your arrival in Puglia more than the iconic sight of a trullo, the unique conical constructions found in the southern Murgia area of the peninsula.
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Trulli have been around for many hundreds of years, though the oldest surviving ones date back only to the 16th century. The probable reason for this is that they were generally built as temporary dry-stone accommodation that could be dismantled whenever necessary... This was usually when the property tax collectors came to town! Imagine their surprise when they arrived at Locorotondo, Alberobello or Fasano to find mounds of rubble and virtually no houses! As soon as the inspectors went away, the trulli would spring up again and the locals would move back in!
A typical trullo has a cylindrical base with a conical limestone-tiled roof. Though built without cement, their thick white-painted stone walls ensured coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter. The roof was often painted with an evil eye, a cross or an astronomical symbol and topped by an ornamental flourish.
The Trulli of Alberobello, thanks to their unique characteristics and historical significance, constitute one of Puglia’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is certainly worth a visit.
Whilst mainly still lived in by locals, many trulli have been converted into excellent holiday homes, such as Trullo del Sale, I Trulli delle Sette Sorelle, Trullo Cutetto, Trullo Selva and Fico d'India.
Did you know? the only other place in Europe to have trulli is the Rhineland in Germany... Why? Because migrant workers from Puglia built some while working in the vineyards there! Trulli a home away from home...
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