home     catalog search     luxury     high luxury     contact us     villa guide     blog     Follow us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  Our blog on Wordpress  Follow us on LinkedIn
 
CISTERNINO
CISTERNINO - Puglia - Puglia/Basilicata
Property ID: 2307
Rating:
Sleeps: 10


 
View the photo gallery

Read the booking conditions



Send Us an Email Inquiry



- Independent house
- Air conditioning
- Washing machine
- Swimming pool

- 5 bedrooms
- 4 baths

- Maid Service
- Wireless Internet
- Television
- Oven
- Baby bed available
- Dishwasher
- Particular charm
- Barbecue
- Radio / CD player
See approximate location

 

The trulli are easily some of the most unusual and unrivaled buildings in all of Italy.  The Apulian farmers built their farmhouses in this unique fashion 200 to 300 years ago and it became the style of the time in the Itria Valley.  There were perhaps 1000 built--at least that is the number still standing today.  Of these, there are only a handful that have been preserved and restored and even fewer that are available as a rental.  We are very happy to be able to offer this very special accommodation to our guests.
 
Our trullo has been very thoughtfully and tastefully restored by its French owner.  She has respected the integrity of the structure with period pieces and fitting fabrics and linens while providing a comfortable environment inside and outside.  The kitchen is well equipped and the bathrooms have all been modernized.

Four of the bedrooms are air conditioned.

Check availability
 
Before we look at the distinctive parts of the fascinating house, there are some interesting details to note:
 
The trulli are built of local stone quarried in the region.  The walls are more than a meter thick to protect the inhabitants from the elements of heat and cold.  The inside has no doors, just stone pillars, and curtains are used to separate the rooms.  The bathrooms are an exception to this and do have doors for privacy.  The locals whitewash their homes annually from the bottom right up to the silvery grey cone shaped roof.   This yearly whitewashing not only enhances the appearance of the stucco looking building but also is the traditional method of disinfecting.
 
The trullo was the 17th - 19th century farmer's home and folklore history says that the trulli were created at this time so that the Neapolitan taxes on permanent settlements and buildings could be avoided.  Building without mortar enabled the houses to be dismantled as soon as the locals heard of a tax inspector coming their way and were rebuilt once the tax collectors had completed their inspections.
 
The houses with their tall cone shaped roofs and white round bases look like tiny feudal towers.  The effect is an impressive and magical countryside of small white castles poking out from thick groves of silvery olive trees.  UNESCO has also realized the great value of these structures and has declared the trulli and the Itrian valley as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
During the winter the trulli served both as the residence and the barn and during the summer, as the residence and granary.  At that time it was common for the farming family to live with the animals under the same roof.  At the top of the roof, above the brown grey spherical part, are hand carved ornaments that are holy or magical symbols.  There is always at least one stone "vada", which is a cow representing fertility.  The udders are four protruding square stones.  There are also symbols that represent astrological figures or, even more simply, the owner's initials.  All the ornaments are shaped by hand from stone found in close proximity.
 
Our trullo can accommodate up to 10 guests.

Living space is 160 square meters and the garden space is 3500 square meters.

The structure consists of the TRULLO, the cone shaped building, and the LAMIA, which is the low neighboring building with a barrel shaped roof.  A second LAMIA by the pool was recently renovated as an additional accommodation.

TRULLO (sleeps 2):  The living areas include a living room, a dining room and well-equipped kitchen.  Amenities include: dishwasher, oven, espresso machine, television (local channels), VCR, and CD player. There is one double bedroom (no air conditioning) and en suite bathroom with tub and handheld shower attachment.  With the warm and sunny climate of Puglia, much of the time is spent outdoors either by the pool or under the shady terrace where there is a large wooden table long enough for the guests to gather and dine al fresco.
 
LAMIA 1 (sleeps 6): has a small kitchen, two twin bedded rooms (beds can be joined) and one bedroom with two twin beds.  There are two bathrooms in this structure, one with shower and one with tub.  There is also a small laundry area with washing machine.  Both bedrooms are air conditioned.

LAMIA 2 (sleeps 2): has a twin bedded bedroom (beds can be joined) and one small bathroom with shower.   The bedroom is air conditioned.
 
There is a barbecue next to the straw-covered patio and the swimming pool offers a pleasant view.  The swimming pool is open in 2021 from May 15 to September 25.  The garden offers a variety of plants such as lavender, roses, olive trees and apricot trees.
There are 2 outdoor showers, one of which is by the pool and both have hot / cold water 

The price for the accommodation includes three hours of housekeeping on Tuesdays, and a grounds keeper who attends to the soil, the pool and cistern (very important!) for two hours, three times per week (excluding Sunday and holidays).  For stays of more than one week, an additional three hours of housekeeping and change of linens and towels is provided on Saturdays.

Final cleaning: 200 Euros
Electricity, including air conditioning:  Metered and charged according to usage, with the first 50 Euros free.

Not available:  Extra bed, pool towels, telephone.

Rental pricing 2021

PLEASE NOTE:  This property is priced in EUROS.

 
High season June 19 to August 28  EUROS € 4680/week
Low season All other weeks EUROS € 4400/week

Plus Euros 35 booking fee

Pets are not permitted at Cisternino.

Gas (for hot water) is metered and charged at 6 Euros per cubic meter.
Late arrival is not possible.

Please note that the full security deposit of 1000 Euros must be paid to the owner in cash Euros upon arrival.

SPECIAL NOTES:

1) Water.  Rare, rare, rare.  There will be enough water for you and your group, however it is a very precious commodity in this region.  Puglia offers bright blue skies and very little rain.  The owner and we request that you are as sparing as possible with water during your stay.

Don't let the taps run unnecessarily. Please be polite, respectful and economical with your water consumption and treat the house as if it were your own.

2) Security System:  You are very safe here but if you leave the house unattended - even for 5 minutes - please turn the alarm system on.  At night, when you retire, please make sure that all items are brought inside.  

3) Children are welcome at Cisternino, but they are not allowed to walk up the roof of the trullo.

4) Clients must shower before using the pool, as sunscreen damages the pool liner.

THE REGION:
 
The Itria valley, where our Trullo is located, offers nearby beaches at 30 km and is a surprisingly fertile area.  The olive trees and vineyards yield an abundance of fruit and the sun and rich red earth produce ample fresh produce.
 
This region held a unique and powerful position during the 13th century when the great Federico II, King of Sicily (which included this region at the time) and Emperor of Germany turned Puglia into a royal granary.  Alfalfa, wheat and other life sustaining grains came from here and proved to be a strong economic force.  Soon thereafter, fortified hill towns began thriving and Baroque castles were built.  These distinctive towns and sights make this Italian region a destination well worth visiting.  Still off the beaten track, Puglia makes you feel like you are the first to discover this fresh area.  It is a unique journey far from the museum lines of Florence.
 
Puglia is charmed with wonderful typical restaurants serving inexpensive, fresh food with ample portions.  A delicious dinner with a couple of bottles of wine at a private table located on a characteristic piazza may set you back 15 Euros.   Located just  800 meters from the house is a small grocery store and the romantic town of Cisternino is only 6 km away.  Pretty Cisternino, 400 meters above sea level, dates back to Medieval times and offers a wide range of remarkable Renaissance and Baroque buildings.  This whitewashed town holds live jazz concerts at the piazza, every weekend during the summer.
 
Grocery shop: 800 m
Cisternino 6 km
Cisternino/Scalo 17 km - train station
Martina Franca 8 km; Ostuni 15 km, Locorotondo 12 km; Ceglie Messapica 15 km
Bari 70 km
Brindisi 40 km
Beaches on the Adriatic 30 km (excellent diving in the area)
Regional airports in Bari. A one hour flight from Rome.
Driving - From Naples 4 hours. From Rome 7 hours. From Milan 11 hours.


 

Gira! Italian Vacation Rentals
1003 South Madison Street
Denver, Colorado 80209 USA

info@italyrentals.com


Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Our Wordpress blog Follow us on LinkedIn

                             GIRA! Italian Vacation Rentals is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Travel Agencies & Bureaus in Denver CO

Sign up for our Email Newsletter