A trullo (plural trulli) is a dry stone hut with a conical roof found mostly in the southern regions of Italy. Originally used as storage or temporary shelters, they are now protected by Italian law. The trulli in Alberobello--our first side trip from Bari--are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Initially, I had planned to take a train to the town but for some reason there were no trains on the 10th so we wound up taking a bus. Not a big deal, but it was our first introduction to how chaotic the bus stops in Bari was. It was about 55 km (34 mi) and took just over an hour which wasn't bad. I could see from the bus window that this area was very dry: not a lot of trees, which is one reason people built with the abundant stone instead of wood.
This trullo looks like it's being used on a farm as storage.
This also wasn't exactly a day trip--more an overnight--so we arrived too early to check in but we were able to leave our luggage at the accommodation's office and we walked around town a bit.
I've read that the roof paintings are meant to ward off evil spirits or so people could tell their house after drinking. I think I also heard that they aren't that old, maybe put on in the 80s or 90s.
Still, they are interesting.
We booked a night with
Trulli D'Angiò. It was about $100--and we didn't get a discount on our Bari apartment--but it was worth it. It also included breakfast--always a plus.
Kitchen/Living area
Outside our trullo
After we transferred our luggage to the place we went to explore some more.
Looking at the Trulli Zone
Fe and I at the lookout
Olive oil jars in a courtyard
Another view
It was time for lunch and the town is pretty small, so we just walked up to a square and had lunch at
Cosi Comero--the same place we will have breakfast tomorrow. It was great, so we're looking forward to tomorrow!
Inside the restaurant. It's made to look like a trullo inside.
Another plus to staying overnight is that we had the town almost to ourselves once all the day tourists left.
Sunset over town
Close up
Trulli by night
Fe and I
There are trulli throughout the town but most of them in the UNESCO area seemed to be Air B&Bs or souvenir shops with some restaurants thrown in. We picked up some sandwiches for dinner and took them back to our place.
After a great night's sleep, we got up to look around a bit.
War memorial in the square
Church door
Inside the church
Bust of John Paul II
Trullo beside the church. Outside the UNESCO area, many are locals' homes.
There was even a grocery store made up of several linked together.
We strolled back to Cosi Comera and had our breakfast, then checked out.
The staff here was great offered more of what we had the first time. Tempting...
We had a few hours until our bus back to Bari, so we did a bit more exploring to walk our breakfast off. On the way, we passed an elderly lady sitting on the sidewalk. I said, "Giorno," (which is one of the few Italian words I know), and then she asked us where we were from, telling us what she had seen in the US earlier, and asked what we had seen. Then she invited us in to see her house--which was a trullo! She showed us around, talked about her family history, and showed us some of her trip and family photos. We must've been there at least twenty minutes and if we'd have stayed any longer, I think she'd have fed us! I would be OK with that (ha, ha) but we had a bus to catch.
Me, Nonna Laura, and Fe. I think we made her day--I know she made ours.
This last part is really what I like about travel. We didn't speak much of each others' language, but it was a great experience and it's something we'll aways remember about this trip.
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