The real estate market in Italy has in recent times seen a growing interest in the southern Italy region of Apulia, or Puglia in Italian. This is mainly by foreigners seeking for second homes or other forms of property in Italy. In the first quarter of 2014, Puglia was the third most demanded region in the Italian real estate market by buyers and investors from around the world. It was also the first most demanded Italian region in UK. Britain is an important market since it actually ranked second after the US in Italian property demand according to the number of requests for properties listed on our site.
The Land of Trulli – an overview
There are several reasons why many international home buyers are looking for a property in Puglia. The entire region not only has a great cultural heritage but has some of the most beautiful landscapes and sceneries in Italy. Puglia in general, and specifically the Trulli region, strategically lies between Bari and Brindisi airports giving it access to and from major international cities. The two airports have in recent years opened up many routes making the Trulli region even more accessible.
The region known as Terra dei Trulli (Land of Trulli) is actually a strip of land in central Puglia extending from Terra di Bari to Alto Salento. It has 13 municipalities covering three provinces: Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. The entire Trulli region has a population of around 400,000 and is one of the most sought after tourist destination. Its name is derived from the large presence of trulli, which are actually old stone houses with conical or domed roofs. These unique structures are quite impressive and a major tourist attraction in the region. They are a perfect example of spontaneous but imperishable architecture. The cone-roofed houses are characteristic of the village of Alberobello, which made the town one of Italy’s 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Alberobello in the province of Bari is recognized as the Capital of Trulli. Archaeological finds in this region trace the first trulli settlements as far back as the Bronze Age. There are still many existing trulli in Puglia that date back to around 1350 A.D.
Besides having a large presence of trulli, the Itria Valley has a rich cultural, environmental, economic and social heritage. Notable wines from this region include the white DOC Locorotondo and Martina Franca DOC wines. The region is also rich in extra virgin olive oils. A discussion of the Itria Valley would not be complete without mentioning the famous Villa Castelli DOC as an indigenous product.
Buying a property in the Land of Trulli, Puglia
Buying a house in Puglia can be quite beneficial because the region boasts of having some of the most notoriously low prices in Italy. The surging interest in Puglia real estate in recent years has led to an increase in home prices but the prices are still very competitive and significantly lower than in other parts of Italy especially in the north. Additionally, there has been a significant decline in Puglia home prices due to the economic crisis that affected the entire world.
Properties for sale in Puglia follows the same trend as in other parts of the country where homes along the coast, which enjoy views of the beautiful crystal clear sea and enchanting countrysides, are more pricey than homes located further inland. Prices for properties a few kilometres from the coast are much lower than beachfront homes. Despite the differences in cost, there are many beautiful real estate gems away from the coast such as in Martina Franca which is in fact 25 kilometres away from the sea.
Buying in a home in this region provides great value for money and an opportunity to enjoy the sun in this enchanted region. It is also an excellent opportunity to invest in rental property which you can rent out to tourists during summer.
It is quite possible to buy a trullo in the valley at a very affordable price. There are different types of trulli for sale in Puglia, some as good as new while others requiring some form of restructuring to make them habitable.
To be restored – If you are interested in a trullo which may require to be restored, the general prices for a 40 to 50 square metres house including plenty of grounds measuring approximately 10,000 square metres complete with olive trees start from around 30,000 Euros. The price for a larger trullo of between 70 and 100 square metres ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 Euros.
Partially restored – It is also quite possible to get a habitable house of the same size with approximately 20,000 square metres of surrounding land and located within walking distance from the sea for between 100,000 and 130,000 Euros. The property may however require a few tweaks or major reconstruction to make them fully habitable.
Completely restored – If you are interested in buying a habitable trullo that is as good as new and one that does not need any intervention, you can get a 50 square metres home for around € 80,000. A trullo with larger dimensions of about 100 square metres both internally and externally ranges from € 140,000 to € 250,000 depending on the property’s location and its finish. Naturally, the distance or proximity of the property to the sea will also significantly affect its price just like in most other places.
As stated before, the closer you get to the sea the higher the price goes. The highest priced property in the land of trulli is actually along the coast, especially the region coinciding with the Municipality of Polignano a Mare where real estate goes for € 2,300 per square metre. This is actually where you find a concentration of the best beaches especially in Bari which is a popular destination for tourists in summer thanks to its great beaches and coves. In the Itria Valley, which is recognized as the cradle of traditional trulli, prices are much lower than the seaside resorts mainly because the valley is more inland although just a few miles from the scenic Adriatic Sea on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other side. Alberobello, the capital of trulli, is also quite affordable with property prices of around € 1,600 per square metre.
Take a tour of the best properties for sale in the land of Trulli!
Main characteristics of a trullo
Trulli are basically traditional Apulian stone huts characterized by a conical roof. A single hut is called a trullo. This type of traditional architecture is uniquely found in the Itria Valley, especially in the Murgia region in Puglia. Trulli were originally constructed to serve as field shelters or storehouses that later became permanent dwellings mainly in the 19th century. Evidence from archaeological research shows the existence of trulli construction in the Bronze Age while there are some existing trulli in areas such as Alberobello that date way back to the 2nd century.
There are several theories on origin of trulli architecture. A popular theory states that the high taxation on property in Puglia region led inhabitants of this region to construct dry wall huts which could easily be dismantled at the first sign of tax inspectors in the neighbourhood.
The construction of traditional trulli basically utilized dry stone masonry without cement or mortar. This type of construction was also used in building dry-stone walls that separated countryside fields. The materials used in building trulli is mainly hard limestone or in some places calcareous tufa. The roof is usually made of two skins namely a limestone voussoirs inner skin and an outer skin made of limestone slabs. The outer slabs are tilted outwards to ensure that the hut is completely watertight. The roof stones are easily datable and can be removed without affecting the stability of the trullo. There are fewer trulli close to the sea, a region also known as the plain of olive trees, but they become more frequent as you go further inland, in some cases forming a small farming village of trulli around a small square or a church.
Restructuring the trulli
Trulli construction has been recognized and preserved by UNESCO since 6th December, 1996. This unique style of construction was usually handed down from one generation to the next one by teachers known as trullari who held this precious heritage of skills and knowledge with great esteem. Today, there are still many trullari with the entire trulli construction or renovation skills at their fingertips. Alternatively, if you have purchased an old trullo you can take advantage of local businesses staffed with highly skilled professionals capable of restoring, renovating, or conserving trulli.
Restructuring a trullo will largely depend on whether it is a modern or one that has been in existence for a long time due to architectural constraints. A modern trullo can be restored using the materials it was initially built with. The renovation of a trullo roof is usually done by removing slabs of limestone known as chiancarelle and replacing them with new ones while ensuring that all intersections are properly connected. Trulli are fine examples of durable architecture that lasts centuries and easily restored or restructured.
