7 days in Puglia, Italy - 09/16/2023-9/22/2023

Day 4- Alberobello-9/19/2023

Trullo Sovrano

A Trullo is a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Trulli (plural of trullo) were generally constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or as permanent dwellings by small proprietors or agricultural laborers. In the town of Alberobello, in the province of Bari, whole districts contain dense concentrations of trulli. The golden age of trulli was the nineteenth century, especially its final decades, which were marked by the development of wine growing.

We are now headed to Trullo Sovrano located in the northern part of Alberobello behind the Basilica of Cosma e Diaman.   

The front of the Trullo Sovrano. It is now a museum that shows how the everyday life into a trullo was used to be. It was built around the 1797 by the wealthy family of the priest Cataldo Perta.

Built in the 18th century and s is the only trullo built with two livable floors. The 46 ft. high roof has the peculiarity of a pediment elevated to the 2nd floor, reachable through a stairway cleverly build into one of the main walls. It is National monument since 1923, was formerly used as seminary, where were kept the relics of the saints before the building of the current Sanctuary.

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A bit of background of the trullo Sovrano

As soon as you walk in you see the main hall  which is the most important room of the house. 

 In place of the usual wooden attic there is a pavilion vault, completely made of stone and supported by a system of four Romanesque arches placed against the two main walls.

The main room is now the Museum souvernirs shop.

On the left of the main room is the bedroom

The peephole on the side of the door was called "saittèr" in dialect, "saettièra", and was used not only to recognize who was at the door, but also, in extreme cases, to "dash" (it means "to strike with a shot") the intruders . 

The master kitchen and pantry

Panoramic view of the room

View of the entire dinning room.

From the dining room there is a door leading to the garden

Very charming backyard.

The garden represents the element of charm ofTrullo Sovrano, but also its little oasis. Lots of plants and trees:  lentisk, strawberry shrub, olive tree, pomegranate, laurel, lavender, santolina, rosemary, sage, jasmine, etc.

We saw a little tiny kitten inside the garden.

 Rainwater is conveyed from the roofs into the cistern through special channels.

Archway inside the trullo

The secondary kitchen which can also be accessed from the outside through a secondary access door, preserves the characteristics of an ancient kitchen intact. 

Despite being intended for subordinates, and therefore less important than the kitchen which overlooks the garden, it expresses a charm of its own, probably due to the strange play of arches that constitute its supporting structure.

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 Originally this room was an oven for baking bread. Later the oven was incorporated and connected to the rest of the Trullo.

The trullo was no built at the same as you walk around you can see the owner made additional renovation to the trullo.

Baking area

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Huge urn and a little nook to cook.

We are now on the second floor and there is a huge loom

The loom was used to weave cloth.  It is the oldest crafts in the world as people used to make all their clothes at home.

There is also another room on the second floor with a great view of the exterior. It looks like it was used for a baby as there is wooden crib.

The tour is over and we are going to the old town.

NEXT... Day 4- Old Town