Confronted with such a pretty sight, it is hard to believe that trulli like Il Moro originally were little more than tool sheds where tenant farmers could sleep the night on a trundle bed. But even though their function, building technique and materials were plain and pragmatic—local stones were tightly interlocked with no mortar to keep them together, in Puglia's take on the Mediterranean tradition of the tholos, or domed building—few houses in Italy can beat the trulli's vernacular appeal.
And if the trulli's agricultural origins are often reflected in their size—many have just one or two room, each under its own conical roof—Il Moro, with its four cones resting on six arches, is bigger and more sophisticated than most. Painstakingly renovated, it oozes rustic charm without skimping on comfort.
Flanked by wrought iron rails, the entrance door opens onto a double reception of pale honey-hued stone under a domed ceiling. Just opposite the entrance is a niche with a perfectly restored fireplace bordered by two antique benches. An archway leads to the kitchen and dining area to the right of the living room, while the sleeping quarters—two bedrooms and a study—to lie to the left. Outside, a courtyard paved with reclaimed stones is ideal for alfresco dining.
What makes Il Moro really special, however, is the large roof terrace, accessed from a traditional external staircase, which nestles among the cones and affords far-reaching views over the trullo's own 0.4 acres, the whitewashed houses of Locorotondo, and the silvery olive groves of the lush Itria valley.
Trullo Il Moro is for sale through Casaitalia International for €385,000. For further information, call the agents on 0039 0743 220122, email info@casait.it.it or visit www.casait.it.
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