Trullo di Luna, a villa rental in Puglia

Ancient Apulian Architecture with a Modern Spin

One of the most unique features of the Puglia region in southern Italy is the trullo, a conical dwelling that looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale. Trulli are constructed from limestone boulders and feature signature pyramidal, domed or conical roofs made from corbelled limestone slabs.

Trullo di Luna is one of a cluster of trulli near the beautiful white city of Ostuni in the Itria Valley. While many such structures are whitewashed, this has been left unfinished, its interiors sparsely decorated in earthy neutrals with exposed stone, little alcoves and archways that lend it an almost sculptural feel.

The house is surrounded in three hectares of countryside with ancient olive groves, oaks and almond trees, with a covered terrace and an imperfectly lovely kidney-shaped pool surrounded in sandy banks and paved stone walls.

This vacation home for rent in Italy is a great destination in itself, but also makes an ideal base for exploring this beautiful part of the world.

Read about designer Charlotte Taylor's stay at Trullo di Luna in our Stories section here and a short history of the trullo here.

To view the other homes, visit Melograno and Il Guardiano.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Italy has one double bedroom, a bathroom with a shower, and a small living room equipped with a sofa that converts into a single bed. There is an outdoor patio with a barbecue/outdoor kitchen surrounded in stone walls, as well as a pool and outdoor shower shared with the adjacent trulli.

Trullo di Luna can be rented alone or, for larger groups, with one or both of the other properties on the same site. Both Trullo Guardiano and Trullo Melograno have two bedrooms.

Around

There is much to see in Puglia, the elegant heel in Italy's boot. As the region has a long coastline, there are many beaches to explore, both sandy and rocky. Start with Torre Guaceto. And don't miss the Grotte di Castellana, an extensive karst cave system, that is one of Puglia's most popular attractions.

The white city of Ostuni is close by. Described by Lonely Planet as "a pearly white tiara", it extends across three hills, with a cathedral centrepiece, and boasts a great selection of bars and restaurants. Other towns to visit include Alberobello, Martina Franca, Locorotondo, Cisternino. And don't forget to sample the region's famous olive oils and wines.