A Closer Look at Trulli Houses in Italy
By: Bella Reformasi Pertiwi
Tags: Trulli Houses, Holiday, Italy, Eropa, Europe

Trulli Houses (Euro-t-guide.com)

It’s no secret anymore that Italy is home to a breathtaking architecture. From the colourful facades of Venice to the old stone farmhouses of Tuscany, every region has its own distinct flavour and it’s what gives the areas such a unique character. But there’s one town in Italy where the houses are unlike anything else in the country, cone-shaped, pointy and downright adorable.

The deep south of Italy is a veritable treasure trove. Breathtaking coastlines, historic towns — it goes without saying that you’ll be head over heels in love as soon as you set foot in the region. But in Puglia, in particular, there’s something unique that sets them apart. Perhaps you’ve seen them before, these little white-washed houses with their cone-shaped roofs.

Called Trulli in Italian, these iconic little houses bring flocks of visitors who dream of strolling through these unbelievably idyllic scenes and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture. The Trulli looks like a town that has come straight out of a fairy tale. Some even claim to have seen a fairy or a gnome frolicking between the Trulli cones.

What is Trulli?

Trulli is a small conical stone hut that was traditionally constructed in the Italian region of Apulia. The remarkable houses were built with the dry-stone technique, which has been used since Neolithic times. These conical houses have long been used for housing, storage, and shelter by the local people. The name derives from the Greek word troulos, which means dome or cupola.

The white lime buildings are topped by a characteristic cone-shaped roof covered with grey stone tiles with a white lime tip called “Pinnacoli”. The cone is built without any framework or mortar cement. The tiles are laid one on top of the other in increasingly narrow circles up to the final funnel. That was how people built structures from stones without any cement or mortar to bind the stones together.

Inside the Trulli is characterized by a room, or several rooms, which are generally added around the central unit. The Trulli is habitable only on the ground floor, but below them, cisterns can be dug to conserve rainwater.

You might also notice that some houses have symbols painted on the roofs as well. Many of these are religious symbols, thought to bring good luck to the household living there. Take the heart with the arrow through it for instance. It’s not an homage to Cupid, but instead a representation of Our Lady of Sorrows, or Santa Maria Addolorata in Italian. You’ll also spot a dove which represents peace and the Holy Spirit, crosses, and the initials of various Christian saints.

How to get there

If you’re dreaming of seeing the Trulli, then you’ll be glad to know that it’s very straight forward to get to Alberobello from Ireland. Alberobello is considered by many to be the Trulli capital of Puglia. Tourist activity in Alberobello is wandering around looking at Trulli. There are also a handful of small museums and plenty of opportunities for buying kitsch souvenirs and tasting local products.

The centre of Alberobello is mostly composed of typical small-town Italian streets and buildings, with a few Trulli interspersed among the buildings in a surreal fashion. Some older back streets are lined chiefly with residential Trulli. The most picturesque parts of Alberobello, though, and the strangest, are the two areas composed almost entirely of Trulli; over a thousand of them. Here the little white pointy-topped dwellings are clustered together like a hobbit town.

Most visitors fly into Bari or Brindisi and make their way to Alberobello. Bari is the only airport out of the two that’s served by direct flights from Ireland, with the route being operated by Ryanair. If you’re going by public transport, then there are trains that can bring you from Bari to Alberobello and it takes around an hour to get there.

There are many Trulli in Puglia that can be rented out as holiday accommodation. They can range in size from a humble two-cone cottage to sprawling villas, so whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway to Italy or a luxury group holiday, you’ll be bound to find something to suit you.

You can also check out Ostuni, a city with many bars and restaurants for you to choose from. A market is held every Saturday which boasts a wealth of local produce. Martina Franca is also another must-see in the area. It features the typical whitewashed architecture with generous amounts of beautiful Baroque ornamentation and design.