Crocheted Handicrafts

The town of Alberbello (see previous post here) is known for its handworked crocheted linens. They are very pretty and also quite affordable. One shopowner was very happy and willing to give me a demonstration of how she worked her cotton threads.

 You can see some of her creations on the wall to the right, and on the bench she is seated on.

She told me, "This is all I do all day, every day!"

Alberobello

Alberobello is world famous as the Trullo Town. What's a trullo you ask? It's a little round house with this unique conical roof made of limestone slabs piled one atop the other without the benefit of mortar to hold them together. There are many theories behind the origin of the design. One of the more popular theories is that due to high taxation on property the people of the Itria Valley created dry wall constructions so that they could be dismantled when inspectors were in the area. Apparently, they were taxed per roof..no roof, no tax!

These structures can be found throughout the Puglia region, but they are usually used as storage sheds for farm equipment in the countryside. You can see some of my previous trullo shots both from the inside and out here, here and here.