The Trulli of Alberobello, why they have cone roofs and what they were used for

Hello fellow travelers!

Today, I’m excited to share with you the enchanting Trulli of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Puglia, Italy. These unique limestone dwellings are known for their distinctive conical roofs, which have captivated visitors for centuries.

The cone-shaped roofs of the trulli serve both practical and historical purposes:

1. Efficient water collection: The conical shape allows for easy rainwater runoff, which is then collected in underground cisterns.
2. Temperature regulation: The thick stone walls and cone roofs help keep the interiors cool in summer and warm in winter.
3. Easy disassembly: Historically, the roofs could be quickly dismantled to avoid property taxes or during times of conflict.

Trulli were primarily used as temporary field shelters and storehouses, but over time, they evolved into permanent homes. Today, many trulli have been converted into charming tourist accommodations.

Fun fact: The largest trullo in Alberobello is the Trullo Sovrano, standing two stories tall!

Don’t miss this architectural marvel on your next Italian adventure!.

There are places in Italy that are “breathtaking” by definition, and certainly Alberobello is among them. A place more unique than rare, since the famous Trulli are located here: we are in the territory of the Itria Valley, and these evidences of building that were made of dry stone and slabs have come down to us. And it is a real fortune: among mysticism, legends, mysteries and folk beliefs, we explain why the Trulli of Alberobello feature the cone roof and what they were used for in the past.

What are the Trulli of Alberobello

Their shape? Undoubtedly fairy-tale, we must say. Today the Trulli of Alberobello are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their shape may seem “magical,” but in fact they have a fascinating history. There are more than 1,000 Trulli that we can admire in this bucolic strip of land. Right here, a long time ago, these typical constructions were made of limestone, an enormously widespread material. But there is a very specific reason they were built this way: dry, without mortar, so they could be dismantled quickly.

These stone hovels feature the characteristic cone-shaped roof. And they are a magnificent example of peasant culture and ingenuity, of Italian rural architecture. Because of their aesthetics, they are recognizable to say the least. And they are understood as historical memory of the Apulian people and of the traditions of the place. Compared to other styles, or at any rate characteristic houses, Trulli are special for a reason: the aesthetic is rural, but they have always responded to the needs of the farmers in the area, particularly tying in with three factors. Which are? The climate, the material, and the agriculturally based economy.

What the Trulli of Alberobello were used for.

You know when the adjective “timeless” is used about something that, indeed, does not expire but remains imperishable in memory? The Trulli of Alberobello are exactly that. Because indeed they met the needs of the peasants in the area, to the goal of having a roof over one’s head, a shelter for one’s family, a place to call home and to return to after a long and exhausting day in the fields.

These are ancient peasant dwellings where the “cozzari” could then rest, sleep, but also keep all the tools and tools they used to plow the fields.

Why the Trulli of Alberobello have cone-shaped roofs.

The first thing we notice when we look at the Trulli? Undoubtedly the roof. Indeed, it is distinctive: cone-shaped, covered with gray stone tiles that stand out against the white of the rest of the building, with a projecting cornice, a strategic choice to collect rainwater. Beyond the color contrast, however, the roof cone ends in a funnel shape, and in the ends are some decorative elements, the “pinnacles.” The latter are a real signature of the trullar. Above the roofs, then, it is possible to observe symbols, which were painted: the meaning depends on what they wanted to convey (or to protect against the evil one). In some cases these are religious, pagan or zodiac-related symbols.

The keystone with esoteric motifs, in any case, is the subject of study: indeed, for a long time these constructions have been called “magical.” But, as we have ascertained, esotericism has nothing to do with it. Among the recurring elements of the primitive symbols of the Trulli, we undoubtedly remember the intertwining of dots and lines, such as the triangle or circles, isolated dots or the symbol of the Trinity. Magical symbols, on the other hand, as anticipated, include all those that are related to the Zodiac, such as the signs, or the Sun and Moon. No less widespread, finally, are the Christian symbols.

The architecture of the Trulli of Alberobello in detail.

The oldest example of the Trulli of Alberobello that has come down to us, and whose date, moreover, is known because it is engraved on the lintel, is the very famous Marziolla trullo of Valle d’Itria, dated exactly 1559. And, of course, the characteristic cone-shaped roof prompts us to ask: why? There are definite reasons why this choice was made. No, it is not an aesthetic issue, although this peculiarity has contributed over time to their fame.

The cone shape is associated with that of a kind of inverted glass. The architecture is very “simple”: the masonry is lime, the structure circular, and the interior rooms wind out from the center. Cement was never used, but, rather, materials from the area, those most readily available, such as local stones and mortar by the trullaro, the figure in charge of construction. Although, in fact, these characteristic houses were meant to be demolished quickly, it must be said that they remain resilient, cheap e splendid. Perhaps the trullarians did not even imagine it, so the peasants, the value that the trulli would acquire in the time, so much so that it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To this day, in any case, trullarians play an active role in the preservation of the trulli.

Thanks to the architecture, in any case, these buildings provide unbeatable coolness in summer. And in winter? The climate remains pleasant. A testament to peasant ingenuity, we said it for a reason, and it is indeed so. After all, according to scholars they are a kind of evolution of the Tholos, the prehistoric constructions. They have been returned to us as an example of bioclimatic architecture, as one of the landmarks of vernacular architecture. And they are. So much so that today’s young people are becoming interested in their history and in building and maintaining them: many are choosing to specialize as master trullarians.

The interior of the Trulli of Alberobello

What can be found in the interiors of the Trulli of Alberobello? Today they are private dwellings, and in some cases accommodation facilities where it is possible to stay for an authentic Apulian experience. Usually, inside them there is a well-structured room or additional rooms, but these are added to the central room. Inhabitable only on the ground floor, it happens that under the Trulli there are cisterns where rainwater is stored instead. Many have been finely furnished, so much so that the term “luxury” has been juxtaposed with what is, in fact, a type of primitive architecture, explaining the needs of past peasants. And today they are being studied by architects and engineers. When the past teaches, but more importantly it remains, forever, in history.