Having watched a couple of shows that featured the trulli of Alberobello we were keen to observe them for ourselves. These limestone dwellings found in the southern region of Puglia, are remarkable examples of drywall (mortarless) construction, a prehistoric building technique.
The original trulli were made of roughly worked limestone boulders collected from neighbouring fields. Characteristically, they feature pyramidal, domed or conical roofs built up of corbelled limestone slabs.
Naturally there are a couple of structural limitations; limited room size and limited weather proofing. Modern Trulli use mortar, and dedicated chimneys rather than allowing smoke to seeping out.
We visited a modernised Trulli (circa 18th C.) with an additional evolution; multiple Romanesque Arches to support a greater roof span.
The front bedroom also had a 'peep hole' to allow owners to see who was at the front door, or it was suggested, to take a shot at undesirables!
Many Trulli have been converted to holiday lets, or for sale to foreign retirees. Certainly not for us, as they tend to be the opposite of open plan living; cute but impractical.
The day ended with returning our hire car in Bari, enjoying a light meal in a cafe, an expensive taxi ride to the port, a very slow queue through passport control (EU Countries have the express lane) and finally onto the ferry "Dubrovnik".
We had booked a basic internal cabin with basin, and by the 10pm departure we were in our bunks sedated with sea sick tablets. Arrival time Dubrovnik, 8am.
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