European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Beehive buildings of Southern Italy above Trulli houses in Albe Robello including one right with a sign painted on. Its roof to frighten evil a spirits. Right part of the town Quot a most prominent display of its distinctive building style. Story and photos by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau strange Beehive buildings once a Symbol of tyranny loathed by the locals now act like Honey attracting curious  the Heel of Italy s Boot. V a the whitewashed buildings capped with Cone shaped Stone roofs Are known As Truilzi houses. They once housed the poorest residents of the Puglia Region who were not permitted to build permanent houses so their ruling Duke could save Money. ,. A in the Early 1600s, Gia Girolanio Iii Duke of Aquaviva founded a settlement at what is now the town of Albe Robello on Farmland Cut out of a heavily wooded area. At the time the King of he two sic Ilies  the area levied taxes on each new town. The Duke had his citizens build their Homes in the Trulli style which featured a Stone roof built without mortar this Way the buildings could be quickly dismantled the Day before the Royal Taxman made an inspection. Instead of finding a Little town the Royal assessor found Only a scruffy collection of peasants Home. After the Taxman left the Homes would be rebuilt. The Duke was Able to save Money but the people had to keep constructing new Homes. Apparently the Duke was abusive to the townspeople in other ways. Fortunately for the subjects the King eventually summoned Aquaviva and imprisoned him for 16 years. \ a 1 a a a a a a the count s heirs however proved to be just a tyrannical. In 1797, Albe Robello s residents sent seven of their Peers to the King s court to express the Community s grievances a a a a a a a la a a a eventually the King placed Albe Robello under his Protection allowed the residents to elect their own municipal government arid granted them permission to build More stable and permanent dwellings. The people of the Community wanted to build any kind of Structure other than Trulli since to them the. Beehive houses had come to represent centuries of oppression. A however Only Trulli builders were available and As a result Albe Robello residents continued to build in this. Distinctive style. It became a permanent part of the Region s culture and ini909 the City s dome roofed. Houses were declared a National Monument. Quot today the inhabitants of the area still prefer Trulli to a Modem House Quot said Angelo Armiento Community relations officer at san Vito Dei Normanna air station in the heart of  one knows for sure How the building style was. Started Armiento said although there Are Many Good guesses. He said similar primitive buildings can be found elsewhere in Europe the Middle East and Africa. Some historians believe the first Trulli were built by Saracens warriors from what is now Syria who. Conquered Puglia in 840 a. Quot a a a Quot it has been established that some of the Puglia. Trulli Are at least three centuries old Quot Armiento said. Athe dwellings name is derived from the latin word a Quot trullo Quot which Means Small Tower. Today Albe Robello located about 35 Miles South of. Bari is a tourist attraction. The town and its environs have nearly 2,000 Trulli a Many of them in the   the South of town. The roofs of Many of the houses Are decorated with Ghristian and Pagan symbols to bring Good Luck and Ward off evil spirits. 1. A a a a l. Each Beehive Structure generally consists of a Large Central room with three or four alcoves used As kitchens dining rooms or for other purposes clusters of As Many As six linked Trulli serve As  a the dwellings Are comfortable soundproof and warm in the Winter and Cool in the summer Armiento said. Many of the Beehive houses Are shops Selling such. Items As Small Trulli replicas other Memorabilia and local wines. / a. A some visitors find the number of shops  s Trulli Region disappointing. 1 Quot it s Over commercialized Quot said Petty officer 1st class , the senior enlisted pharmacy technician at the Naples Navy Hospital. Fie took his family to Albe Robello last summer. A. Quot i enjoyed looking, Trulli to see How they re made but it seemed As though every other one was a