In 1644, the King of Naples sent tax collectors intermittently to the Puglia region, near the town of Alberobello; from the medieval Latin name of the region “siva arboris belli” (The wood of the tree of war).
Count Acquaviva came up with a plan to avoid settlement taxes: he forced local people into houses that could be taken apart easily . These were the famous trullo houses that had been around (sic) since ancient times and since they were morterless - dry stone walls - they could be built or destroyed very quickly.
When eventually it was out for the Count, the town was granted the staus of a royal town by the King of Naples. For 200 years they have kept the style of their houses though, adorned with pagan Christian and alchemical signs .
The centro storico is now a Disney park and busloads of tourists from cruise ships docked at Bari come up to wander around.
Another UNESCO World Heritage siteRead more
May 5, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 🌫 17 °C
How do they water=proof the roof without mortar?
I imagine it was a taxing experience for all concerned...
Stones laid like shingles, 3 layers thick
But did they contract shingles too? Tony