WHERE: Alberobello, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+2)
HOW: Car from Altamura (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Mediterranean summer
La arquitectura de este pueblo es tan original como su historia. Resulta que en la Edad Media las poblaciones tenĆan que pagar un tributo al Reino de NĆ”poles, y cuando esta zona se empezĆ³ a llenar de campesinos, los condes que dominaban las tierras les dejaron establecerse allĆ a condiciĆ³n de construir viviendas que se pudiesen demoler facilmente en el caso de una inspecciĆ³n por parte de NĆ”poles. AsĆ surgieron los "trulli", pequeƱas casas construidas en piedra, sin cemento, con un ingenioso tejado-cĆŗpula en forma de cono, decoradas con intrigantes sĆmbolos. Y asĆ es como naciĆ³ el fraude fiscal!
Architecture in this town is as original as the story behind it. Settlements in this area had to pay a tribute to Naples Kingdom during the Medieval era, and when farmers started coming here, the counts ruling this land let them stay under one condition; they had to build easy-destroyable houses so they won't get caught in case of an inspection by the Kingdom. This is how "trullis" were born, small stone houses, built without cement, with an ingenious cone-shaped dome/roof, decorated with curious symbols. And this is how tax evasion started!