Beyond its emerald coastline and olive groves, Puglia is an arid region and the heat can be punishing -- but step inside the centuries-old grey and white "trulli", and the temperature dips sharply."There are between seven and 10 degrees (centigrade) difference between inside and outside a standard trullo. But sometimes there can even be 15-degree difference," said Francesco Fragnelli, a trulli restorer.Traditionally featuring one room with alcoves for a bedroom and kitchen, the trulli were built from the mid-14th century using roughly worked limestone boulders collected from fields as farmers cleared the land for agriculture.
Traditionally featuring one room with alcoves for a bedroom and kitchen, the trulli were built from the mid-14th century © Tiziana FABI / AFP
Fragnelli, 58, told AFP the trullo's hygrothermal performance is due largely to the thickness of the walls, which can measure between 1.5 metres and three metres (five to 10 feet) deep.The limestone in summer slowly releases the humidity it absorbed over the winter months, while hot air rises inside the conical roof, cooling the area below.Age of sufferingBut over the centuries, the grey and white structures built as shelters and storehouses fell into disrepair.
