About the Trullo

The trullo (ancient Greek τροῦλλος trûllos, "dome") is a type of conical dry-stone construction traditional to south-central Apulia.  The trullo constitutes a refinement of the prehistoric model of the thòlos, found in various parts of Italy and the Mediterranean. Trullo constructions in Apulia and in particular the Trulli of Alberobello have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 6, 1996.

HISTORY        

The primitive Apulian trulli were built by peasants and shepherds with stones gathered on site, on the farms themselves. Consisting of only one room, they were used as temporary shelter or storage for agricultural tools. Over time the form underwent a slow evolution, arriving at dwellings of several rooms, consisting of a main room plus other smaller perimeter rooms as alcoves. The spread of trulli was caused by the phenomenon of feudal fund splitting, which led to scattered settlement in the countryside and agricultural exploitation of previously uncultivated land. 

STRUCTURE          

Trulli can be counted among the ancestral examples of prototypical modular buildings that would have their exploits in the 20th century with the rise of rationalist architecture. They can be composed of a simple room (unitary module), or by the juxtaposition of several rooms (modules), which are usually added by budding around the central room. The modular construction unit of the trullo has a roughly circular floor plan, on the perimeter of which the very thick drystone masonry is imposed. This solution, on the one hand greatly restricts the interior spaces, but on the other hand, combined with the almost total absence of openings except for the entrance door and, rarely, a very small hole at the top equipped with a window to ensure a minimum exchange of air inside, makes it a very interesting "ante-litteram" example of passive green building. The great thickness of the masonry, combined with the very small number and sizing of the openings, ensures its very high thermal inertia, which guarantees good heat preservation inside during the winter and the coldest days, just as it mitigates the peaks of the outside temperature in the summer. This consists of a self-supporting structure-in the sense that it does not require centering-composed of a concentric series of horizontal slabs arranged in increasingly recessed steps as one goes upward, with each complete turn being statically balanced with the lower ones. This inner layer of thicker limestone slabs, called chianche, is completed by the outer layer, constituting the actual roof, made of thinner slabs, called chiancarelle. For the construction of the typical Apulian structure, local limestone was used, the use of which implied its removal from the fields where it prevented cultivation. 

The Trullo originated as a typical peasant construction in which, regardless of the different theories about the historical reasons for its diffusion in this particular area that is the Itria Valley, the cozzaro (i.e., the one who cultivated the master's land) could have a bed where he could sleep and keep the tools of the field. The cribs (generally simple straw mattresses resting on the floor) of the children were placed in alcoves carved out of niches, generated by budding from the masonry of the main trullo and separated from it by curtains, which made up, given the cramped spaces, for the function of the doors. From the point of view of the use of interior spaces, the trullo was born with only one living floor. A few wooden beams, arranged transversely at the top and still visible in some trulli, never had structural functions but rather fulfilled the function of hanging food, provisions, dishes, tools, in such a way as to keep them well off the ground, taking into account that the rammed earth floor could be shared by people and pets.

The 85-square-meter accommodation consists of a detached building with two entrances (one from the bedroom and the other from the dining area) and is composed as follows:

- Outdoor kitchen with separate entrance (two steps to access) equipped with gas cooktop, electric stove combined with microwave, original Berkel slicer, refrigerated wine cellar for bottles

- Second indoor kitchen with induction cooker, refrigerator with mini freezer, electric kettle, coffee maker, dishwasher, toaster, dining table and inverter split for air conditioning and heating

- Bedroom with double bed (queen size), single bed in sofa bed, wardrobe and smart TV

- Toilet with toilet, bidet and stone shower

Large garden equipped with two dining areas, one of which is covered by gazebo, equipped with table and chairs, swimming pool with whirlpool for the exclusive use of guests and two deckchairs that can also be used in the water, barbecue, wood-burning pizza oven and outdoor solar shower (can be used without the use of detergents)

Additional services available to guests: Unlimited wifi (connection not suitable for smart working), additional device for outdoor wifi use, parking spaces outside the property, heat pump heating, washing machine, mosquito nets, safe, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide 

The host team will explain you all the details for a perfect stay. 

Check in from 15:00 to 20:00 

Check out within 11:00 a.m.

Other timetables can be agreed