Monday, March 28, 2016

Locorotondo and Alberobello

For three nights, we slept in Martina Franca, Apulia, a good base for exploring Locorotondo and Alberobello, and to make an excursion to Taranto for their Good Friday events. And Martina has its own treasures as I'll report in another post.

Martimna France is located on a vast, 437 meters above sea level, limestone plateau. Since prehistoric times the local have been building trulli (singular trullo) which are dry stone huts - no cement - with conical roofs.

Our first day trip would be walking to Locorotonda, a white city on a hill, then training to Alberobello, a city with over 1000 trulli, then training back to Martine.

A trulo seen on the walk to Locorotondo.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

The walk started out wet but the rain eventually almost stopped with many trulli to be seen on the way.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

And after 6 kms, we are rewarded with a view to Locorotondo.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Some young folks in the Locorotondo Cathedral were preparing an image of Jesus for the Good Friday procession.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

It's a loved church for sure.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

While the back streets of Locorotondo we find a witch hanging from a wire; part of the pagan rituals of Apulia. More on that later.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

And on to the train for a short ride to Alberobello.
Locorotondo, Apulia, Itlay

Alberobello is truely the center of trulli tourism in Apulia, Italy. You can see why....Some of the trulli have whitewashed ancient symbols on the roofs. There is even a trulli church.
Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

4 comments:

Crash Eddy said...

You have good photos of the stacked stone, cement-free, cones. Amazing. Doesn't Italy suffer earthquakes? I'd expect these to collapse.

john said...

Thanks Crash!...Yes Italy does get its share of earthquakes. I'm guessing that since the trulli are low and squat it takes a very, very strong quake to knock one down as opposed to a 150 foot bell tower made of brick & mortar.

Liz said...

Love the trulli architure! The cathedral is beautiful!

Sun-Ling said...

I LOVED the trulli houses too. It's like being in fairyland, if it were not for the shop signs.

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