Trullo Petrarolo is a beautifully restored retreat in the heart of Puglia. Converted from two traditional conical houses or ‘trulli’ into spacious and welcoming accommodation, it may be booked on its own or together with neighbouring nine-bedroomed farmhouse, Masseria Petrarolo. Both are on the same estate and so are ideal for large multigenerational holidays.
Originally built in the mid-1700s, Trullo Petrarolo is believed to have been the home of a head farmer or manager for the neighbouring nobleman, Signor Petrarolo, after whom Masseria Petrarolo is named. Trulli were usually built for farmers to use as storage in the fields, often for tools but also as a shady place to rest during the heat of the day. Later as Puglia developed as a successful wine region, they became homes, and today the nearby town of Alberobello is the best-preserved example of this architectural style. Trulli were built in ‘tufa’, a local limestone that was skilfully stacked without mortar in a circle, before adding the conical roof that has become iconic today. Stonemasons often added a signature pinnacle, so that the owners could tell their house apart from others.
Today, the restored Trullo has two beautiful bedrooms, with additional space in a mezzanine, if needed. The more spacious conical building, originally a stable, now has a breakfast kitchen and large circular living area with comfortable built-in seating. A spiral staircase leads up to the mezzanine, once used for grain storage. The original trullo contains the light and sunny Lunetta suite, a double bedroom with large windows overlooking the courtyard. The bathroom was once a very large oven! Ciliegeto is the master suite in a new extension with its own private garden with an outdoor bath and shower, as well as a beautifully shaded pergola – a welcome retreat in the heat of summer. In the cooler season, it has a superb working fireplace to keep the bedroom cosy. A covered dining terrace outdoors leads to the heated pool and has views of the vineyards, cherry orchards and olive groves. It has a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with a fireplace for evenings, or barbeques over lunch. For superb sunset views of the Adriatic Sea, exterior staircases have been restored to wrap around the cones leading to the rooftop terrace – also perfect for romantic sunset dinners!
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon