The unique Trulli, the dry stone buildings with unusual conical roofs that dot the glorious Puglian landscape were first constructed by the puglian peasantry in the 13th Century, as simple dwellings perfectly suited to the puglian climate, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The Trulli have evolved over the centuries, becoming larger and more sophisticated. Whilst many trulli had been abandoned, there has been in the recent past, a regeneration of the countryside with renewed interest in the trulli. Sympathetically renovated trulli become a unique home containing all the modern amenities expected in the 21st century, whilst retaining their unique rustic charm.

Their age and the theories about the reasons for their existence are shrouded in mystery and suggest origins in ancient Grecian or Syrian times,maybe constructed by the Crusaders or Byzantines and even, possibly, some form of medieval tax avoidance! Alberobello, the capital of Trulli, has some 1500 examples of these unique dwellings.

Many owners still paint upon the roofs of their trulli ancient mythical symbols used for protection, upholding the traditions of the past.

The pinnacle itself served only to satisfy spiritual or personal needs of the builder-owner. Likewise the whitewashed symbols on the roofs had no physical function, but were usually related to non-material aspects of the occupants lifestyle, be they for mystical or divine protection of the household, for individual aesthetic satisfaction or to satisfy an owners ego of having a more cleverly decorated trullo (it's not unusual to find the owner's initial painted as a symbol) than a neighbor.