Trulli Alberobello - fabulous houses in Puglia on the heels of Italy

My cherished dream came true: my family and I arrived in Bari - the capital of Apulia - to bow to the relics of St. Nicholas.

Yes, it's a miracle that we are here, an extraordinary miracle!

On this wonderful day on the heels of Italy, another magical place awaited us - the town of Alberobello and its fabulous trulli.

I didn't know anything about this heavenly place before. As if enchanted, she wandered through the cozy narrow streets, admired the unusual snow-white houses with domes. They're like toys!

We were surprised by the drawings on the sharp tiled roofs: on some - symbols of Christianity, on others - signs of the zodiac and astronomical symbols. Everything is just like in my life: I believe in God and I am fond of Vedic astrology!

I was especially interested in why on the roofs of some trullos the sign of Saturn ♄ is depicted - the planet of just retribution, severity, asceticism and hard physical labor!? How can this be, because Trulli are so funny, even festive in appearance! What evil and injustice were their inhabitants forced to defend against?

Later I found out who and under what circumstances built the fabulous houses, and I understood everything. This story is a triumph of hard work and fair justice, the sweet fruits of which, in the 21st century, are enjoyed not only by the descendants of the trullo builders, but by the whole world.

In 1481, Count Aquaviva de Conversano broke the law and, without royal approval, brought peasants to his estates in the Yttria Valley in order to build a city.

The cunning feudal lord forced the poor laborers to come up with buildings that could be turned into a heap of stones in a minute if a check came up.

And they came up with! They began to erect houses using the dry masonry method without cementing. They piled rough cobblestones and fixed the whole structure with one single stone at the base of the roof. Inside, the roof was also built of limestone blocks, and outside, a conical dome was made of flat stone tiles.

The word trullo is from Greek and is translated as "dome". Although the locals have a joke, what a name is - an echo of the sound "trrrrruuul!" with which the house fell apart when the locking stone was removed from it.

In the 17th century, all houses, except trullo, on the estates of Apulia were taxed by the state. The descendants of the savvy count flourished. And the villagers - the builders of the trullo grieved.

Before the visit of the royal officials, the stone on which the whole trullo was held was removed: three horses tied to it and headed in different directions. During the inspection, tax inspectors saw only a valley heaped with stones.

This was rarely done. The house could be folded again. But even without that, a lot of work fell on the hard lot of the peasant! Just imagine with what fear they waited for the king's inspection! How disappointing it is to look at the rude ruin of a native nest for the sake of the pockets of wealthy feudal lords! All this gave the peasants the courage to make a complaint and petition to the king. He took mercy and on May 25, 1797 awarded the county estate of Alberobello the status of a free royal city.

Gone is the need to apply dry masonry in construction. Many residents started using cement in their houses. But the majority did not believe in freedom, because the king could take the gift at any time. In addition, the trullo architecture met the needs of the locals, who are accustomed to the lack of frills. The beauty of these houses is surprisingly purposeful: every object and detail is necessary in everyday life.

There is only one room under the dome, and if there are several rooms in the house, then each one has a cone-shaped roof.

Thick two-meter walls with small windows keep warm in winter and cool in summer. They are whitewashed outside. This is the similarity of all the traditional houses of Alberobello.

But there are also differences. Trulli are feminine and masculine depending on the dome. The latter have poppies. Previously, they bore the mark of the master - the builder of the house. And each house on a tiled roof has its own symbol - a talisman painted with white paint! Beautiful, touching and unusual!

In many trullos, people live to this day. Others have been turned into cozy cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops and shops.

Everyone who has ever visited Alberobello falls in love with this picturesque corner, with its authenticity and flavor! There are no such houses in the world anymore! In 1996, UNESCO took trulli for protection, officially recognizing it as a world heritage.

And what do you think, world recognition and admiration is a worthy reward for hard work, architectural ingenuity and courage of Alberobello's peasants?

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