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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.
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Before we look 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 accommodates 8
people.
Living space is 160 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.
TRULLO: The living areas include a living room, a dining room and
small kitchen. Amenities include: dishwasher, oven, espresso machine,
television (local channels), VCR, and CD player. There is one
double bedroom and bathroom with tub and handheld shower
attachment. Please note that 8 people can fit inside TRULLO though only four fit in the living room and dining
room at one time. 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 8
people to gather and dine al fresco.
One LAMIA has one twin bedded
room and one bedroom with two sets of bunk beds (four beds). These
bedrooms share one bathroom. An additional twin bedroom with bathroom is
located in the adjacent LAMIA. All bathrooms are equipped with bathtub
and handheld shower attachment. One of the LAMIA bathrooms has a washing machine.
There is a barbecue next to the
straw-covered patio and the swimming pool offers a pleasant view.
The swimming pool is open in 2010 from May 23 to September
26. The garden offers a variety of plants such as lavender,
roses, olive trees and apricot trees.
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. An extra bed, pool towels and a telephone are not available.
Rental pricing 2010
PLEASE NOTE: This property is priced in EUROS.
| High season |
June 19 to August 28 |
EUROS € 2895/week |
| Low season |
All other weeks |
EUROS € 2565/week |
Plus US$ 35
booking fee
Pets are not permitted at Trulli.
Gas is metered and charged at 5
Euros per cubic meter. Water is metered and is charged also at 5
Euros per cubic meter.
Late arrival is not possible.
Please note that the full security
deposit and utility deposit must be paid to the owner in cash Euros upon arrival.
WARNING:
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) Burglar Alarm 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.
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.
Cisternino 6 km
Cisternino/Scalo 17 km - train station
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.
