Petra's Trullo

A Classic Trulli that Stands Apart

This sweet, conical dwelling with its annex expansion and clean, modern update is set on private land outside the teeming trulli capital of Alberobello and retains its agricultural origins, surrounded by delightful fruiting cherry trees, a vineyard, and olive grove.

A traditional agricultural outpost at its heart, this charmed vacation home rental in Italy was transformed by a German interior designer who specializes in hotels. She kept the vibe more rustic than most trulli, leaving the building’s sturdy masonry exposed instead of whitewashing its exterior. 

The result is a breezier, easier, more bohemian trullo, where the cultivated fields extend right up to the spacious stone terrace, or cortile, as it’s called locally, a wide open space outfitted with conversation circles, a tête à tête dining spot, cushy loungers with a view, and a covered alfresco entertaining area. 

Wisteria drapes the home’s entry, and once inside, the redesign reveals modern cabinetry and clean-lined furnishings creating a cool, comfortable, no nonsense atmosphere. Indoor walls have been spruced up in trim white, bedrooms occupy the annex, and the trullo’s classic stone spreads underfoot and overhead, way up into the delightful dome-topped living room.

Read a short history of the trullo in our Stories section here.

AROUND

Set on a 14,000 square meter estate boasting hundreds of cherry trees, gnarled olives so characteristic of the region, and a vineyard, this vacation home rental in Italy still has a pastoral feeling to it, making it an ideal base at which to unwind in peace and quiet after exploring Puglia’s many charms. The UNESCO World Heritage classified village of Alberobello, with its thousands of trulli, is only 10 minutes away, and other historical villages such as Ostuni, the ”white city” with its stunning citadel are also easily accessible by car. 

The Adriatic Sea stretches out languidly 20 kilometers to the east, and the turquoise waters of the Ionian are a bit further to the west, each home to legendary coastal communities such as Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, and Gallipoli as well as larger towns such as Lecce and Otranto. The home’s owner is partial to Matera, a community dubbed a European Capital of Culture in 2019 (and also bearing UNESCO World Heritage status), for its Sassi settlement of ancient caves and rock chapels. Also of note, the ceramic pieces selected for the trullo are created by Enza Fasano, a ceramicist whose workshop in Grottaglie is a must-visit.

LOCATION

Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airport: Bari or Brindisi (approximately 1 hour to each)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October