The holiday home of choice for buyers looking at properties in Southern Italy is the trullo, reports the BBC. A trademark of the region of Puglia (Apulia), it is a dry stone hut with a conical roof specific to the Itria valley.
"They are as magical as they are historical," writes the BBC of the trulli. "Dotted across the landscape, alone or in clusters, with one cone or even a dozen, they look like miniature rustic fairytale castles - Asterix meets Disney."
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, trulli in the past were mainly used as temporary equipment or animal storage places; today, they are often restored and converted into second homes or cottages.
According to the BBC, trulli need renovating every 100 to 150 years; it takes about a month to rebuild a cone and the cost is Euro 15,000. The trullaro is the expert who comes in to help renovate and rebuild the trullo.
Intrigued? Click here to see trulli properties for sale
