Murgia dei Trulli

World Monuments Watch
Murgia dei Trulli, Italy

2006 World Monuments Watch

The whimsical appearance of i trulli with their domed or conical roofs have attracted the attention of architects and tourists for centuries. These small structures, which first appeared in the southeastern region of Puglia ca. A.D. 500, were the dominant building style of this region until A.D. 800. While a number of them are still used as dwellings or agricultural purposes in the six towns that make up the Murgia dei Trulli, many of the structures are uninhabited and suffer from inadequate maintenance, neglect, or abandonment. Others are threatened by urban encroachment. Without increased public support for their preservation, these rare examples of trullo architecture may soon be lost to urban redevelopment, which is reclaiming the ancient landscape at an ever-increasing pace.

Last updated: June 2018.

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