Peculiar Puglia
 

Just back from a week in Italy - the region of Puglia (pronounced poo-lee-aah) where the trullis are to be found. None the wiser? Well, the region is unique for its architecture in the form of beehive/cone-shaped dwellings. We (that's me and Mrs CF, Julia by real name, so even more peculiar taking Julia to Puglia...) even rented one to stay in. As a picture speaks a thousand times better than my ramblings here's the pictorial rundown.

First the location - in the heel of Italy - bloody hot - 40C (I think that's over 100F) a couple of days while we were there. But that's where the trulli score as their unique construction keeps out the heat... Oh, yes, I said I'd use pictures - well here's a map to be getting on with - we were just outside Alberobello, the trulli capital, so to speak - located near Mass Zippo on the map.

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So what do these trulli things like. well a lot of them are in a state of ruin...

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Hmm, I can guess what you're thinking - not exactly inviting - but then Brits get hold of them and turn them into places like these:

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That's the one we stayed in - amazing restoration.

Trullis are dotted everywhere around the region, many having just one cone (originally used as farmers' and landworkers' store houses and refuges) with grander ones having 6, 7 or even 10 cones.

Alberobello is literally awash with them. Here's a couple of photos - Mrs CF of course insisted on being included...

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They've even constructed a model of the most intensely trulli-ed area of the town.

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Lots more photos and details available through the following links

Trulli pictures

Trulli construction

I truly love the trullis! Thanks for sharing, something else I'd never heard of. I'd like to see the inside of one.

Here's the online brochure for the one where we stayed. Although the photos are good, you don't get the sense of space that the high coned rooves give - I'll have a look for some others that might...

Well that is just cool as heck. Thanks!

A few links to other sites that have better pictures of the inside of the cones here and here and here

CF, this is marvelous, as usual. I love virtual travel with you. Oh, and Mrs. CF is quite lovely, you lucky fellow.

Those are wonderful CF! Thanks for sharing your trip.

I so want one! So different.

I've seen pictures of those before--they are cool. And I envy you being able to travel like that. And Mrs. CF looks very stunning--it looks like you're going out to dinner in those photos!

AND . . . I especially liked the model, very interesting. Except the trees in the backyards--

they look like broccoli. :)

Fabulous! I had never heard of trullis.

Holy shit, they are drystacked!
Plus clever...They are amazing, maybe BigV will rethink his roofing method.

Thanks cf (and the lovely Mrs cf) for sharing your trip.

According to Wikipedia, the roof is two layers.

They are apparently nice and cool in the summer.

They are certainly cool - I can vouch for that - when it was breaking 40C outside the trulli interior was a good 20c lower - maybe even more - as it never felt uncomfortable, temperature-wise, inside at all. No need for air-conditioning at all!

And the water-management is also something we ought to take note of when we consider how much we waste this commodity. Most trulli had (and have) two cisterns. The first collects rainwater that is filtered and used for domestic purposes in summer. Then the domestic 'waste' water is collected in another cistern for use in irrigation

Drystacked? OMG. I get the heebeejeebees just thinking about getting up on that roof. I imagine (I haven't followed the links yet) that they're constructed by erecting a scaffold then placing the rocks on each other following the scaffold/mold. Then after the keystone is placed, the scaffolding is unneeded and removed. I get the heebeejeebees just thinking about the tons of rocks "resting" over my head. I guess these people never heard of earthquakes, eh?

Beautiful pictures, especially your lovely model, CF. Thanks for bringing us along.

Those buildings are extremely cool, and Mrs CF is extremely hot. Great pics, CF.

I can see I will have to include Mrs CF in my content more often....

Outstanding. Very interesting. I am a amature builder myself. Someday I want to build my own house. Some great ideas. Thanks.

It's not quite as bad as you think. The interior blocks are larger and like cubes, so the inside is kind of like an igloo, and then these loose rocks are stacked over that "igloo" style structure to shed the rain. Yes, it is dry stacked, and earthquakes are pretty damn powerful, but it's not like these are the loose rocks they seem to be.

Here's a picture of one that was being taken apart for renovations and it collapsed as it was being taken apart. You can see how it's built.
http://www.zoo.co.uk/~mmenterprises/...-trulli-02.jpg

Very interesting CF.
And Mrs CF is so glamorous! I would look that smart if I had an audience with the Queen, perhaps, unlikely on holiday.