When I was a kid, I was amazed at anything that seemed a bit exotic. Hence my love for travel to places off the beaten path. While it may surprise you, there are a few places in Italy that are different enough from the rest to seem exotic even to Italians. Matera, from yesterday’s post is such a place; another is where we are taking you today, Alberobello, and its surrounding countryside, in the region of Puglia. This is the home of the Trulli (plural for Trullo), mostly whitewashed homes with flagstone conical roofs.
Alberobello, in the region of Puglia
The history of these abodes dates back hundreds of years. As you drive you see many remnants of the old Trulli, entirely made of stone and not whitewashed. The concept of these conical homes was brought to this area by people from the Middle-East and Turkey after the advent of Islam and its early persecution of Christians, who escaped to these shores. The construction took hold with the locals who enjoyed the way these roofs kept homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. You won’t find Trulli anywhere else. Alberobello is one of those unique places I had always longed to visit.
A Trullo church
The signs on the roof are either pre-Christian, Christian, or astrological symbols, all aimed at bringing good luck to the home.
Cats love the Trulli. See the one in the chimney?
After Alberobello we briefly visited nearby Locorotondo, another charming town. We could not stay long as we had to continue heading north to Andria.
Locorotondo
Trulli in the countryside
An old Fiat 500 with the watch party.
The flat countryside is ideal for growing olives. These yellow flowers abound.
Tomorrow we’ll be heading to the region of Abruzzo, which many people from Massachusetts of Italian origin hail from. A region I have never visited before.
I'd never heard of Trillo, fascinating architecture.