We visited over 100 sites before choosing our trulli. We had a lot of requirements, and it was hard to meet them all. Firstly we wanted somewhere with space to enjoy the Italian countryside and with enough space for our own private swimming pool. We also wanted to be a good distance from any neighbours. Because trulli were originally for poor farmers even those in the countryside are often surprisingly near to each other. Our trulli are surrounded by thousands of hectares of farmland. Indeed, the trulli themselves are set in their own 20,000 square metre 150 year old olive grove. We now have "Mark's Places" olive oil for sale, pressed exclusively from olives grown around the trulli.

Secondly a good view was essential. Anyone reading this who has visited Chalet Rhaetia will know how seriously we take the topic of a good view! Southern Italy is much less hilly than the north and, once you have driven up from the sea, this often means flat fields and unexciting views. The pictures here tell their own story.

Thirdly we didn't want to be too far from shops and restaurants. Even more demanding, we wanted somewhere convenient where there was a good choice, but where parking was easy and it wouldn't take an age to get in and out of town.

Alberobello and nearby towns

Our trulli fit the bill. It is a five minute drive into Alberobello, about 5km away. Alberobello itself is a fascinating town, its centre consisting entirely of trulli. The population is only 7,000, so there are just a couple of main streets. That's enough to provide a supermarket, a couple of dozen restaurants, some wonderful traditional Puglian delicatessen shops and it's easy to get in and out of.

As if all that weren't enough, we wanted to be above the very hot coastal plain, but not too far from the sea. The trulli are about 20km from the sea, about a 20 minute drive away.

Taranto

Torre Canne