Alberobello

Alberobello
Comune
Comune di Alberobello

Three trulli

Coat of arms
Alberobello

Location of Alberobello in Italy

Coordinates: 40°47′N 17°14′E / 40.783°N 17.233°E / 40.783; 17.233
Country Italy
Region  Apulia
Province / Metropolitan city Bari (BA)
Frazioni Coreggia, Pantanelli, San Leonardo
Government
 • Mayor Michele Maria Longo [1]
Area
 • Total 40 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation 416 m (1,365 ft)
Population (1-1-2017)
 • Total 10,735
 • Density 270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Alberobellese(i)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 70011
Dialing code 080
Patron saint Saints Cosmas and Damian
Saint day 27 September
Website Official website
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name The Trulli of Alberobello
Criteria Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)
Edit this on Wikidata
Reference 787
Inscription 1996 (20th Session)

Alberobello (Italian: [ˌalberoˈbɛllo]; literally "beautiful tree") is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has 10 735 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trullo buildings. The trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.

History

Alberobello was first mentioned in the early 16th century when the first 40 families were granted land to farm in the area. The abundance of calcareous sedimentary material in the area lead to the building of houses with dry stone without the use of mortar. These houses were the first trulli which contributed to the expansion of the settlement. Building the houses of dry stone was a requirement of Count Giangirolamo II as in this way it was avoidable to pay taxes on them. The inhabitants of Alberobello were feudal vassals of the Acquaviva of Aragon until May 27, 1797, when King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon received Alberobello and issued a decree that elevated the small village to a royal city, freeing them from feudal serfdom.

The Trulli of Alberobello

The roofs of Alberobello's trulli

The limestone conical structures, are examples of dry stacked construction. Corbelling is a pre-historic technique. The structures date from around the 14th century. Two districts of the city have the largest numbers of trulli: Rione Monti has 1,030 trulli, and Rione Aia Piccola has 590 trulli.[2]

International relations

a row of trulli

Alberobello is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ http://www.comune.alberobello.ba.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=26&skin=white&size=%%
  2. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Trulli of Alberobello". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alberobello.
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