The “Trulli” of Alberobello

They are buildings of architectural expression dating back to prehistory. Trulli were generally built as temporary shelters and warehouses or as permanent homes by small landowners or agricultural laborers. These structures, dating from the mid-14th century, typically feature pyramidal, domed, or conical roofs constructed of corbelled limestone slabs. The rural Trulli are scattered throughout the Itria Valley but the highest concentration of the best preserved specimens is located in the town of Alberobello. In 1996 the Land of Bari received another prestigious UNESCO award for its beauty: the Trulli of Alberobello, because they are “ an example of a form of construction inherited from prehistory and which has survived intact, despite continuous use, up to the present day”.