Alberobello and Castel del Monte Private Day Tour from Rome

ALBEROBELLO The Trulli in the Apulian town of Alberobello are famous worldwide for their beauty and unique characteristics, and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture. They were built in a particular historical period, when the construction of stable dwellings was highly-taxed; the inhabitants of the region thus boasted a great capacity to adapt, and an exceptional cleverness in coming up with the idea for the Trulli, temporary houses built with the local stone. From precariousness to stability - the process of transformation and recovery, and the deference to the originality of the work earned the Trulli of Alberobello (in Apulia) their recognition as a World Heritage Site. In the southeastern zone of the Murge Plateau, more precisely in the area of Valle d'Itria, these buildings are scattered throughout the territory, where they stand out with their white walls and famous cone-shaped roofs. Alberobello is universally-known as the capital of the Trulli. Here, each Trullo is of a different shape and size. Unique constructions, they are sometimes combined in a complex of communicating houses, while others are built on two levels. Most of them feature a grey cone-shaped roof that ends with a sphere or hemisphere shape. The interior, arranged as a single chamber, is constituted niches for a fireplace, bed and various furniture. The structure assures excellent indoor climate control: cool in summer and warm in winter! CASTEL DEL MONTE Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1996, Castel del Monte is a brilliant example of medieval architecture, located on a hill in the Murge area, just a few miles from the city of Andria. Commissioned by the eclectic and cultured Frederick II, Duke of Swabia, the Castle is an exceptional work for the perfection of its forms and the fusion of cultural elements from different periods and places. The lions placed at the monumental entrance are typical of Romanesque art, while the friezes that decorate some parts of the castle belie Classical inspiration. And the floor's design and materials are in part reminiscent of Islamic art. It is interesting to know that the number 8 is the principal factor in the castle's plan: 8 are the sides of the castle's plan, 8 are the rooms of the ground floor and first floor arranged in order to form an octagon, and the same goes for the massive octagonal towers. It is still not clear what led Frederick II to build this brilliant piece of architecture. An air of mystery surrounds it and is thus the fount of many legends and of the charm of this unique place.