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Trulli Houses, Puglia, Italy

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Despite the fact that Italy is mountainous, Puglia, where the most fertile plains are found, is also home to quite different houses. Trulli Houses attracted attention with their conical roofs, gray stone walls, places that call their name as one of the most important tourist areas of the region. The Alberobello city, which is considered to be the “Trulli Capital”, is almost entirely made up of these houses. More than 400 different designed houses here are not only attracting the attention of travelers. Trulli houses in the region are also recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

It is known that the trullon (trullin is used in plural form) made in the 19th century, known as the gold age of agriculture, was built by workers as temporary shelter or warehouse. In addition, these houses are seen as a great counter-stance against the tax system of the period feudal order.

These conical houses built without mortar by people who do not want to pay tax are both a comfortable shelter and a model for demolishing and remodeling in a possible situation. This construction phase is the most important feature of houses. Because the roof-free and conical structures in the tax system of the period are not counted as housing, they are not included in the obligation to pay taxes. Thanks to the roofs being destroyed during any inspections, the people of the house continue to survive by paying taxes.

These houses, which are located on a karstic land very suitable for erosion, are attracting attention with their cool walls by the walls formed by the rocks. The houses, which are decorated with different symbols such as roofs, astronomical signs, continue to be built today.

Interest in these houses, which are being built for residential or leisure purposes, is increasing day by day, even though this is not a valid reason. Each of the houses that make or sell the interior restorations of their own taste will amaze you.

Trulli houses, which have a distinctive structure, reveal the most popular places in Italy. These gray stone houses with a conical structure are quite common especially around Alberobello, Locorotondo, Fasano, Ostuni, Cisternino, Martina Franca and Cegile Messapica. The name of the dome is derived from the Greek word “Truddu” and changes to “Trulli or Trullo”.

The story of the Trulli Houses, which emerged with a formula found by the people of the region to escape tax policy, is quite interesting. Houses that do not have mortar in their construction can be easily dismantled and destroyed in case of needing any changes. Houses that have been dismantled during tax inspections are exempt from tax due to not having any superstructure. This tradition that started in the 14th century continues today.

The area, which is based on erosion-proof and easy-melting karstic land, is known to open waterways to the Adriatic along with winter rains. The people of the region are forced to find a way of life that is in harmony with the water in these different lands, creating many cisterns. The cistern inside each Trullo is the water source of the house. At the same time, the outer walls are built with the rocks from the excavations. These structures, built without mortar, are able to influence the visitors.

Although the reasons are not certain, Trulli houses, which have been increasing in recent years with an interest in construction, are bought by strangers and restored with different designs. These houses, which have a very different design, become more attractive with the restorations made and continue to be used for residential and holiday purposes. These houses, which are more and more famous for the day, begin to become indispensable for those who want to create their own living space.

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14 things you need to know about Puglia, Italy

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1- The tourists love Rome, Venice, Milan. But these cities are always very crowded because they are among popular tourist routes.

However, the Puglia region is not an ideal summer destination, but it is not crowded as it has just been discovered. The people of the region are not overwhelmed by the concentration of tourists. That’s why they are hospitable.

2- St. Nicholas, where the bones of Santa Claus are found. Nicholas Church is Bari’s top tourist spot. The bones of St. Nicholas, who believed to live in Demre in the 4th century, were kidnapped and brought here by Italian pirates centuries after their death

3- The region is famous for its turquoise color sea, 500 kilometers of coastline, small towns and white houses.

4- Puglia, Italy’s favorite region with its cuisine. Especially ideal for vegetarians. Throughout history, the region, which has been facing poverty from time to time, has improved its creativity in the use of vegetables because it can not find meat. It is served during the season of vegetables and fruits, attracting attention with its freshness and flavor. A few tables away, the tanned tangerine’s pleasant smell reaches as far as the desk. The region is also assertive in sea and dairy products.

5- The name “small ears” means orecchiette meaning handmade pasta is very famous. It is always served at the table every day, served with a variety of sauces, mainly tomatoes and basil. In Bari you can sit in the street they set up on the street, and meet Italian women who make and sell this pasta.

6 – 60 percent of the olive oil in the region is produced in this region. The population of Italy is 60 million, the same number of olive trees in the region. So every tree falls to a tree. When you travel, you encounter 2 thousand year old olive trees. The olive oil is different from ours and the antioxidant property is very high.

7- The region is dominated by green energy. You often encounter wind and solar energy panels.

8- Puglia’s strategic position in the Mediterranean has led to its invasion many times throughout its history. So when you travel around the cities you see traces of Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Turks and Spain. Churches, medieval castles, baroque cathedrals and underground olive mills dating from the 17th century stand out. Especially the olive mills are very interesting. Caffe Cavour in Ostuni is one of the caves where the donkeys are working in olive oil production. The oldest cave in the region. At least a thousand years. It is now serving as a cafe.

9 – Polignano, half an hour away from Bari, is an impressive seaside town. As you walk along the narrow streets surrounded by two-storey white houses you suddenly find yourself on the edge of the precipice.Gigantic waves follow the rocky shore where the houses rise up to the shore, while your ears are accompanied by Italian songs sung by a street musician. You do not want to leave your place. In the town there are poets who write short poems on the walls and doors of the houses. It says “There is nothing more epic than the sea” in Italian.

10 – Alberobello, near Bari city, was taken to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1995. The town is famous for its houses called trulli. The greatest feature of houses is cone-shaped roofs. The reason why the roofs of the houses made with the stones that came out of the region were in this way was not to give tax to the king of Naples at the time. The King of Naples is getting heavy taxes from every new building. But since these trulli- lies were not used to charge mortar, the tax inspectors did not arrive and the people were ridding themselves of steal and said, “These are not houses, but animal shelters.” Later, this architecture became traditional. When you go to the town you will also be able to see the inside of the sample houses.

11- One of the most enjoyable accommodation options in the Puglia region is the farmhouses called ‘masseria’. In these houses which are covered by Agro tourism activities, you can have peaceful time in nature, you can find food made by farm owner with products produced in 70% (compulsory) farm. As you can imagine, everything from bread to cheese is delicious. If you have the chance to enjoy a local meal at Masseria Barbera in Trani and a peaceful night in Torre Coccaro, a typical masseria near Ostuni, definitely appreciate it.

12- The almond candy in the name of confetti, the symbol of special occasions in Puglia. Mucci Giovanni has been producing and selling almonds in the same place since 1894. When you enter the shop you disappear among the colorful almond candies. The white ones are taken for wedding, the pink girls for the boys, and the blue ones for the boys. University graduates prefer green ones. On the lower floor of the shop, where there is no other branch, instruments used in the construction of the almond candy are exhibited.

13- The richest city of the Trani region. It reminds me of 1950’s movie sets. At the Gallo Restaurant you can enjoy yourself at a fish festival, then take a short stroll to the port and stay at Hotel Mare Resort. The hotel rooms are made up of wind names. Like Meltem, Bora, Alize …

14- Barletta, located in the north of Bari, is a city with a population of 100 thousand people. Places to visit in the city include the permanent exhibition of the local painter Giuseppe De Nittis. Fog, smoke, cloud, natural life and city life come to the fore among the themes used by Impressionist painter.

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Italian Adriatic Coast Itinerary

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Italy’s east coast runs along the Adriatic Sea from the border of Slovenia to the Salento Peninsula.There is a rail line along the coast from the city of Trieste in the north to Lecce in the South.A highway also runs along the coast so it’s possible to drive the whole route.

 

Italy’s Adriatic Coast itinerary starts in the northeast region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia where Grado and Lignano are top seaside resort towns in this area famous with the colourful birds , you can also take the boat tours here. There’s a small airport at Trieste.

Venice is a city of canals and its main square, Piazza San Marco, is the top place to go in the city. Venice’s architecture is a unique mixture of  western and eastern styles and sights including the famous Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the churches and monasteries.

Since Venice is a car-free city, it’s best visited on a train itinerary and for those who wish to start or end in Venice, there’s an airport with flights to other parts of Italy and Europe.Cesenatico is another highlight of the Italian Adriatic coastal town with a canal through its center.The resort town of Rimini with its sandy beaches is very historical Roman city.

Puglia is a long region from the Gargano Promontory  to the Salento Peninsula, the toe of the boot. Much of the Puglia region is coastline and Puglia is well known for its beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, and charming coastal towns.

Of course, Trani is another beautiful town in this part of the Adriatic coast. Trani’s cathedral with its castle are the best examples of a Romanesque church in Puglia, with fantastic carvings on the exterior and beautiful designed mosaics on the floor.

The town of Giovinazzo, just north of Bari, is a small fishing town to relax and a ideal place to witness a real Italian family local life.

Bari is Puglia’s biggest seaside city where the people usually take the ferry to Greece.

You’ll find sandy and pebble beaches on the coast of the Salento Peninsula  with a milder climate temperature providing a long season to the popular beaches. There are also other nice beaches at Porto Badisco, known for its sea urchins & Santa Cesarea Terme, known for its thermal springs.