Apulia's Alberobello is a town that is famous for her distinctive and evocative local architecture, characterised by the presence of trulli, a kind of traditional limestone building from the area that features cone-shaped or domed roofs that are made of corbelled slabs of stone. Designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, these unique buildings developed out of necessity in the 14th century when peasant workers were moved to the area by Count Acquaviva, a feudal lord, to help clear the surrounding woods and cultivate the land. Trulli became the housing structure of choice for inhabitants of Alberobello as they wanted it to continue not to be classified as an inhabited settlement and to continue to avoid the taxes and laws to which towns in the area were beholden at the time. Trulli could be quickly dismantled, if necessary, and as there were no permanent structures that could characterise Alberobello as a town, they could continue to live there without having to pay the local taxes or adhere to local laws as a result. In fact, it wasn't actually until over a couple of centuries later, in 1797, that Alberobello was first officially classified as a town! A remarkable origin tale and a rather ingenious way to avoid taxes, if you want to come and see the distinct and fascinating architecture of this gorgeous town for yourself, then be sure to go ahead and browse our vacation rentals in Alberobello.
While there are actually quite a number of these fascinating structures that are still in existence (some of our villas in the area are actually trulli that you can rent and stay in), most of these today are shops and homes and the like. There is but one trullo that is a church and it is an incredibly beautiful and highly unique Italian church, the Church of Saint Anthony, or Parrocchia Sant'Antonio da Padova. Built rather rapidly over a period of fourteen months and opened to the public on the 13th of June 1927, it was constructed under the instruction of Don Antonio Lippolis in a strike against the sudden spread of Protestantism that so alarmed him and was designed by the engineer Signorile Bianchi and the master De Leonardis. Dedicated to Saint Anthony, the Patron Saint of Padua, this special church combines the architectural style and building techniques of a modernised trullo with the language of Romanesque-Pugliese church architecture, featuring characteristic rounded arch windows and a rose window above the entrance on the façade. Then, rising above the main body of the church are four domes circling a larger central dome, all of which are topped by the distinctive cone-shaped corbelled roofs of trulli. Further trulli roofs top the flanking tower and other structures that make up the church complex. Inside the building, the walls are white-washed and the décor is simple, with the only real flash of colour visible in the 20th century fresco of the Tress of Life and Crucifix signed by the artist Adolfo Rollo that is located above the high altar.
Beautiful and unique, this incredible church is an absolute must-see if you have found a vacation rental in Alberobello and are spending some time in this scenic part of Apulia. And if you have found a vacation rental in Apullia and not Alberobello, in particular, it is well worth planning a day trip during your holiday in order to come and wander the streets of this picturesque town, admire her unforgettable architectural gems, get some very pretty commemorative photos by which to remember your visit, and soak up this highly distinct and singular Italian town.
Beautiful and unique, this incredible church is an absolute must-see if you have found a vacation rental in Alberobello and are spending some time in this scenic part of Apulia. And if you have found a vacation rental in Apullia and not Alberobello, in particular, it is well worth planning a day trip during your holiday in order to come and wander the streets of this picturesque town, admire her unforgettable architectural gems, get some very pretty commemorative photos by which to remember your visit, and soak up this highly distinct and singular Italian town.
