Trulli, the plural of 'Trullo', are traditional Apulian dry stone huts with conical roofs, found primarily in the Itria Valley of Puglia, Italy. These unique structures have a rich history and a captivating architectural style.
The story goes that Trulli were originally constructed without cement, allowing them to be easily dismantled when tax collectors came around. This design allowed the inhabitants to avoid paying taxes, as they could quickly dismantle the structures and claim they were temporary shelters.
Each Trullo is typically a small, circular structure with whitewashed walls and a distinctive conical roof made of limestone slabs, stacked in a herringbone pattern, where the slabs are arranged at a 45-degree angle to form a V-shaped design. The roofs often feature decorative pinnacles, called "pinnacoli" or "capped." These unique features are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve functional purposes, such as ventilation and stability.
Trulli were originally used as agricultural storehouses, dwellings for farm laborers, or temporary shelters during the harvest season. Over time, many of these structures were converted into permanent homes or holiday accommodations, blending traditional architecture with modern facilities.
Today, the Trulli of Puglia are not only architectural wonders but also draw visitors from around the world to admire their unique charm and history. Discovering hidden gems in the countryside and experiencing the magic of Trullo architecture is an unforgettable journey through the heart of Puglia's history.
Puglia | Italy Apulia, also known by its Italian name Puglia is a region of Italy, located in the southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Otranto and Ionian Sea to the southeast and the Gulf of Taranto to the south.
The region comprises 19,345 square kilometers (7,469 sq mi), and its population is about four million people. It is bordered by the other Italian regions of Molise to the north, Campania to the west, and Basilicata to the southwest. Its capital is Bari.
Puglia is respected for its unique blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, delicious cuisine, and vibrant traditions. Several factors contribute to what makes Puglia so special:
Beautiful Coastline: Puglia boasts some of Italy's most picturesque coastlines, with crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs. From the rugged coastline of the Gargano Peninsula to the pristine beaches of Salento, there's no shortage of breathtaking seaside destinations to explore.
Trulli Architecture: The iconic Trulli houses are a symbol of Puglia's rich architectural elegance. These whitewashed, cone-shaped buildings with their distinctive roofs are a sight to behold and add to the region's charm.
History: Puglia is immersed in history, with traces of ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Visitors can explore well-preserved archaeological sites, ancient castles, and charming historic towns like Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South," with its Baroque architecture.
Traditional Cuisine: Puglia is a food lover's paradise, offering a mouthwatering array of dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From orecchiette pasta and creamy burrata cheese to seafood delicacies like octopus and sea urchin, Puglia's culinary scene is diverse and delicious.
Olive Oil and Wine: Puglia is Italy's top olive oil-producing region, known for its high-quality extra virgin olive oil sourced from centuries-old olive trees. The region is also gaining recognition for its wines, including Primitivo and Negroamaro, produced in the sun-drenched vineyards of Salento.
Charming Towns and Villages: Puglia is adorned with charming towns and villages, each with its own unique character and charm. Whether wandering the narrow alleys of Ostuni, the "White City," or admiring the coastal views from Polignano a Mare, visitors are sure to be charmed by Puglia's picturesque villages.
Warm Hospitality: Pugliese people are known for their warmth and hospitality, welcoming visitors with open arms and making them feel at home. Whether enjoying a slow-paced feast in a family-run trattoria or attending a local festival, visitors to Puglia are sure to feel embraced by the region's friendly atmosphere.
Overall, Puglia's combination of natural beauty, richness of architectural elegance, culinary delights, and welcoming spirit make it a truly special destination worth exploring.
You're strolling through the sun-drenched streets of Puglia, Italy, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The air is filled with the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread, simmering sauces, and herbs straight from the garden. Welcome to the culinary paradise of Puglia!
Now, let's talk about the heart and soul of Puglian cuisine: simplicity with a dash of sophistication. Puglian dishes are all about letting the natural flavors of fresh, locally sourced ingredients shine through. Think ripe tomatoes bursting with sweetness, fragrant basil plucked straight from the garden, and golden olive oil so good you'll want to drink it by the bottle.
One of the things that makes Puglian cuisine so awesome is its deep connection to the land and sea. Puglia's coastal location means seafood plays a starring role in many dishes, from plump mussels and tender octopus to succulent sea bass. And let's not forget about Puglia's famous orecchiette pasta, lovingly handmade by nonnas (grandmothers) across the region and served with everything from hearty ragù to fresh vegetables.
But perhaps the true star of Puglian cuisine is its olive oil. Puglia is the largest producer of olive oil in Italy, and once you taste the liquid gold that is Puglian olive oil, you'll innerstand why. Whether drizzled over a Caprese salad, used to sauté fresh vegetables, or simply enjoyed with a hunk of crusty bread, Puglian olive oil elevates every dish to new heights.
And let's not forget about Puglia's sweet treats! From flaky pasticciotto pastries filled with creamy custard to almond-studded friselle biscuits dipped in sweet wine, Puglia's desserts are a true delight for the senses.
So there you have it: a taste of the culinary magic that awaits in Puglia. Whether you're a seafood lover, a pasta aficionado, or simply someone who appreciates good food made with love, Puglia is sure to steal your heart and your taste buds!
This is the Puglia kitchen
Live Music in Puglia
Puglia hosts several opera and jazz concerts and performances throughout the year, particularly during the summer months when many towns and cities organize outdoor events and festivals. These concerts often take place in historic venues such as theaters, castles, and piazzas, adding to the magical ambiance of the performances. Additionally, Puglia's rich traditional architecture and artistic tradition make it a fitting backdrop for opera, attracting both local talent and renowned artists from around the world. Whether you're a seasoned opera or jazz enthusiast or simply looking to enjoy a traditional experience, attending an opera or jazz concert in Puglia can be a memorable experience.
The beauty of Puglia, Italy
Investing in a typical Trullo or old farmhouse, building and restoring the old architecture into a Home, a place to Stay, a place to Remember and a landscape of organic regenerative farms.
Investing in the typical Trullo or old farmhouses movement is gaining momentum as more people recognize the value of preserving and restoring these unique structures. The movement is evolving as investors, architects, and conservationists work together to ensure that Trulli and old farmhouses are renovated in a way that respects their historical significance while also meeting modern needs and standards. This evolution includes innovations in sustainable building practices, creative adaptive reuse projects, and efforts to promote Trullo and old farmhouses tourism and architectural appreciation.
Investing in regenerative farms Jan-Gisbert Schultze – How a VC investor got bitten by the regeneration bug and went via Joel Salatin, Gabe Brown and Ernst Gotsch deep into syntropic agroforestry.
A conversation with Jan-Gisbert Schultze, a VC investor who turned into a regenerative enthusiast and bought a small olive farm, which he is turning into the first syntropic farm in Salento, in Puglia (Italy), a region battered by monoculture olive trees.
After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollen, Jan got bitten by the regeneration bug. He attended courses with Joel Salatin, Gabe Brown and Ernst Goetch where he went deep into syntropic agroforestry. That led Jan to buy a masseria Amadeco, a small farm in Puglia, in a region where now more than 15 million trees are dying because of modern agriculture, ploughing, chemicals and, of course, the xylella fastidiosa, a virus which seems to be the last straw on the camels back for these poor suffering trees. Finally, Jan managed to convince Dayana Andrade and Felipe Pasini, the oldest students of Ernst Goetch, to come and help regenerate his farm Amadeco.
Masseria | Amadeco | Puglia, Italy
The time of monoculture olives might be over in Salento, Puglia, but the future of olive trees as part of a diverse, extremely productive system seems just beginning, or coming back as there are records of the Romans already farming olive trees in a very diverse agroforestry system. Why is Jan so hopeful about the future, and what has accounting to do with it?
Amadeco | Puglia, Italy | Masseria Sintropica | Syntropic Farm
Podcast Jan-Gisbert Schultze Listen to this highly inspirational conversation about regenerative farming, investing, and the future of our collective food system. We can change the way we spend our wealth and the wealth transfer that is taking place at the moment, as a healthy way forward and a way that solves many problems at the same time. It's a long-term mindset about life and the way we invest our value and wealth in.
More inspirations about Stays in Puglia
For inspiration in (re)creating old farmhouses and Trulli in Puglia, you can check Moroseta Homes or Special Puglia. And check out this gem La Cabane Ostuni they renovated this old architecture into a beautiful stay and are almost fully booked in the high and have good results in the slow seasons as well.
The importance of interior, exterior & landscape design
Typically, well-furnished houses are consistently fully booked during the season, covering the additional costs associated with their design.
What we do and where we assist in with the Lebron Foundation: Creating Organic Regenerative Farms & Stays in Puglia
We handpicked some impressive Trulli properties or old farmhouses available on the market, and we can assist in the (re)creation of these unique architectural wonders. Here is one of them ''Alba Tramonto'':
Alba Tramonto
Alba Tramonto is a beautiful unique Trullo in need of renovation, with four cones plus a lamia for a total of approximately 90 m2 (968 sq ft). The property measures approximately 9,000 m2 (2.2 acres) and is planted with century-old olive trees and various fruit trees.
The property is situated in a residential area, inhabited all year round, with panoramic views and a short distance from the historic centre of Ceglie Messapica.
Lebron Foundation Support with this Trullo Alba Tramonto:
This could be transformed into a charming farmhouse experience in the beautiful Puglia area of Italy. Renovating a typical Trullo combined with an organic farm stay is something that hasn't been done yet in the Trullo renovation movement. This (re)creation could set a higher standard, and create a healthy transition and return on investing.
We can facilitate the entire process of turning this property into a marvellous Trullo farmhouse and organizing organic events in the slow season, such as olive harvesting experiences, natural medicine making and natural winemaking. The land is perfect for these kinds of farm creations, and with multiple farm layers, we can organize many different farm experiences around this typical Trullo.
Asking price €95.000 For more information go to the page Farm Sales
Building & Restoration Vision We don't just assist in restoring Trulli or an old farmhouse, we envision possibilities, including transforming the surrounding landscape. From redesigning the landscape to creating vegetable gardens and orchards filled with diverse fruit trees, our goal is to transform each Trullo or old farmhouse into a unique and special place, unlike any other.
Imagine entering an organic farmhouse where everyone can enjoy the richness of the land, from tasting natural wines to experiencing freshly pressed olive oil and perhaps even trying homemade pecorino cheese.
With a variety of farm-fresh products available, we ensure that both (vacation)guests and yourself can fully experience the richness of life on this beautifully envisioned Trullo property or an old Puglia farmhouse.
Organic Farms in Puglia
Masseria La Cattiva | Natural Winemakers
Travelers, winemakers, adventurers, dreamers, chaotic, passionate, innovators, thirsty. We are seven friends united by the love of wine and the desire to make people feel good. How our story begins:
La Cattiva is the historical name of the farm.
It all begins by chance, as always happens with the most beautiful stories. Marianna is a friend who lives in Puglia. She has an abandoned farm, the family owns vineyards but they don't produce wine. She snaps the plan. In 2018, a bit for fun but already with a lot of ambition, they take a few quintals of grapes and experiment with the winemaking model. They have fun and decide to continue. In 2019 they take courage, rent the vineyards and start giving a new life to the farm.
Today they have 7 hectares of wonderful vineyards in Sammichele di Bari, all cultivated strictly organically since they were planted in 2001. In the vineyard they work everything by hand, from managing the vines to harvesting. The only treatments they do are with copper and sulfur.
At the foot of Alta Murgia, in Puglia, Morasinsi is designing a multifunctional farm following the principles of regenerative agriculture. They are free farmers and winemakers
At the foot of the Alta Murgia, in a peculiar territory characterized by gentle hills, rocky ridges and a great variety of spontaneous tree and herbaceous species, theu live and cultivate the land following the principles of regenerative agriculture.
The earth speaks through their hands
They have two missions: one environmental and the other social.
Their environmental mission is to protect biodiversity and improve the balance of the agricultural ecosystem, soil fertility and water quality, concretely contributing to the resilience of the effects of climate change.
Their social mission is to enhance agricultural work and stimulate a return to the countryside and real agriculture, demonstrating that creating productive ecosystems is a concrete way of improving the economy of the agricultural system and protecting the territory.
The limoncello is made with lemons from the longest-established and most exclusive variety in Italy. Il Femminello del Gargano IGP - Puglia
These extra fresh lemons have been handpicked since 1850 by the same family in Rodi del Gargano. Their unique taste, intense “Profumo” and colour allow us to use only natural ingredients. No colouring, no artificial aromas. They also use Less Sugar. Agricola Ricucci
It was back in 1850 that Michele Ricucci founded the Antica Azienda Agricola Ricucci, understanding ever since then the inestimable value of the generous biodiversity of the Gargano land. Today, after 4 generations, the Ricucci farm is still there, on the northern coast of the Gargano National Park. The production, mechanical and traditional, includes two native and centuries-old crops, perfectly harmonized with the climate and vocation of the territory: Ogliarola Garganica and the citrus groves of the Gargano. Seasonality, natural fertilizers, and sustainable agriculture define the production, which unfolds entirely on their land nestled in the heart of the Gargano National Park. They've embraced the bounty of their rich soil, meticulously tending to it while adhering to seasonal production cycles. By preserving the unique characteristics of Gargano's biodiversity, they nurture vast olive groves and citrus orchards within the same terrain. As a result, their organic and sustainably cultivated oil and citrus fruits are exclusively available during specific times of the year. The Guttarolo Winery
Since 2004, the date of birth of the company, they have been working the wines and the vineyards themselves in a "natural" way. Although the company is certified organic by a protection body, they exclude any fertilization treatment and use of organic fertilizers. They favor grassing by maintaining the land-fauna system in synergy, respecting natural selection. They also follow this principle in the cellar. The vinifications take place spontaneously using indigenous yeasts. The wine remains in contact with the skins as much as possible, from 14-18 days for the one processed in steel up to 150 days for the one in amphora.
They let "nature" work in order to obtain a true, authentic wine belonging to that vintage with all its qualities and differences, but still a natural product. The company was born from a project aimed at promoting the culture of wine and the redevelopment of this vine which, in the countryside of Gioia del Colle, expresses itself with particular elegance thanks to the altitude and the strong variations in temperature between day and night, as well as for the good ventilation and the peculiarity of the karst terrain of the Murgia.
The cellars are located in the old stables of the farmhouse which, built entirely of stone, are ideal for storing and aging wine.
The Wines
When we talk about Primitivo we almost always think of the denomination of origin Primitivo di Mandura, systematically forgetting what is, instead, a reality, historically, even more linked to the Apulian vine and its production, that of Gioia del Colle. Geographically, Gioia del Colle is a small cluster of houses surrounding the beautiful castle that Frederick II of Swabia had built in 1230. The cultivation of vines and the production of wine in the territory of Gioia del Colle were already active between the 8th and 3rd century BC (Peucezia), as evidenced by the numerous discoveries of containers intended to contain wine in the archaeological area of Monte Sannace, the largest known Peucetic settlement, a few kilometres from Gioia del Colle (some finds can be admired in the archaeological museum located inside of the castle).
Petra Cavallo Winery The farm D’Onghia is in the territory of Mottola. Strategic point for trade between the Ionian and the Adriatic side, between the Salento and the high Murgia, Mottola is land of ravines and rupestrian villages, surrounded by the typical Mediterranean vegetation, a few kilometers from the Gulf of Taranto. The Story Enthusiasm and experience. It all started as a joke, almost a bet between me and my father. On the one hand there’s me, Vito, a young winemaker in love with my vineyard, my land and the desire to produce a wine as artisanal as possible, like the one my grandfather made me taste as a child.
On the other hand, there’s my father, Peppino, a winemaker with years of experience behind him. Thanks to his advice and suggestions today we can drink a handcrafted wine, naturally good. Philosophy
For me, to produce a natural and handcrafted wine means this: to produce a wine that is expression of the territory in which it develops, treating the earth and the vineyard with the utmost respect, following the grape in the various stages of its transformation from a raw material to a drink bottled and ready to be consumed, with its own story to savor and enjoy.
Vini PETRACAVALLO are made from grapes grown in vineyards with traditional methods, not treated with pesticides, with spontaneous fermentation without adding yeast to other grapes, with a low quantity of sulfur dioxide and without enzymes or additives.
It is mostly a work philosophy of the winemaker who, according to the territory, the climate and the seasons, follows its wine thanks to the experience and the handcraft skills, with no additives or invasive processes.
At the core of Le 4 Contrade there is the wellspring of everything: our organic farm, managed by our family for centuries and passed from father to son.
The Spagnoletti Zeuli family has been farming since the early 1600s, carefully modernizing the farm over time, following the development of agricoltural innovation. They love to shine a light on the value of the produce from our Organic Masseria and share with their customers a piece of our Apulian countryside, a tapestry of centuries old olive trees, almond groves, vineyards and wheat fields rolling across the hills of Murgia.
They only grow products from local varieties: Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil made from unique Coratina monocultivar olives, as well as a collection of native almonds including the Genco, Tuono and Filippo Cea varieties. Bees on the farm
Their organic wildflower honey is the expression of organic farming which consists of almond groves, olive groves, vineyards, arable land, and uncontaminated fields with wild plants and wildflowers. A naturally healthy environment for bees and their activity.
Franco Rondinella, a beekeeper with a long experience, who has chosen for more than 10 years to leave his apiaries on our land, is well aware of this. Their partnership is virtuous: bees are free to work in a clean environment, free from pesticides and chemicals, producing the best Italian organic honey and contributing to a rich pollination (and flowering) of almond orchards and their countryside. Farm tour Experience an afternoon in their organic countryside, comprised of centuries-old olive groves, almond groves, vineyards, beehives, ancient trulli and immense uncontaminated expanses of wildflowers and plants. Then enjoy a tasty aperitif at sunset in the magical atmosphere of our nineteenth-century courtyard.
