Alberobello

Finally we had a chance to explore the town we were staying in, Alberobello. They (historians) think the name for the town came from some local trees that were growing here (the town name means, "Pretty tree"). Alberobello and the surrounding area are know for a very unique and very quaint type of building, the "trullo." Originally made to house farming implements and provide shelter for livestock, trulli began to be used as human dwellings in the middle ages, when a tax was issued on those who lived in regular houses.  The people, not wanting to pay the tax, started building nicer and larger trulli for themselves to live in.  A trullo is a stone house built with no cement. It is said that if one removes the key, supporting stone, the whole thing collapses in on itself.  This was convenient for the people because they could just temporarily "destroy" (and later rebuild) their trulli whenever tax collectors came calling.
Alberobello has a large collection of trulli in an "urban" town setting. It is really something. Most trulli are found more isolated on a large piece of land...usually a more rural dwelling. We saw many scattered here and there in the valley where Alberobello is found.

GROTTE DI CASTELLANA

Before we explored Alberobello, we took a short drive to the nearby Grotte di Castellana, which is a huge network of underground caves (formerly the site of an underground river). We took a tour which ended up being hot, long, tiring, and slippery. James and I kept arguing later about who "took one for the team":  me, who carried Susannah in the baby carrier the whole way (and held Luke's hand for much of it), or James, who was like our pack mule and had to carry everyone's jackets as they got too hot. We were both sweating and miserable by the end of the tour.  That said, the inside of these caves is astounding!  They wouldn't let us take photos but for the beginning and end of the tour.  The stalagmites and stalactites take forever to grow.  I think the guide said 100 years for every centimeter.  We weren't allowed to touch anything because the oil in our hands would stick to the rock and repel any future water+minerals falling on that spot and therefore stop the growth of the formations.

 Going down, down, down into the caves.

 It's spooky in here!

 Some stalactites and stalagmites.  In each chamber, the guide would point out one that looked like the Madonna, or an ice cream cone, or the leaning tower of Pisa, etc..

 James wanted me to get a shot of him so he would know he was there, too.

 Looks like an organ to me!

ALBEROBELLO

 The view of Alberobello from Belvedere, a lookout point.

 The trulli.

 A trullo.  You can see that the roof is stacked stones.

 A street in Alberobello.

 Norah and Luca enjoying the afternoon.

 Exploring the side-streets in Alberobello.

 Mommy and Luca...faded but I like this photo.

Family band shot! Susannah was there, too!