If fairy tales had architects, they might"ve come up with something like Alberobello in Italy. But instead of magic wands, it was limestone, mortar-free masonry, and—according to some theories—a bit of tax evasion that built this town"s signature homes: the trulli. These are whitewashed stone houses topped with dry-stacked limestone roofs shaped like upside-down ice cream cones. It"s an ancient building technique, and in this case, a clever one. Back in the 14th century, locals were reportedly trying to avoid property taxes by constructing homes that could be quickly dismantled when the king"s tax collector came around.
Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Today in History
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Dashing through the snow
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You won’t see this on Mulberry Street
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International Literacy Day
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Anniversary of Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
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Winter in the Wild West
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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Great on so many levels
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
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World Migratory Bird Day
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
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Chicagohenge
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’Chess on ice’
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International Day of Peace
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Penguin Awareness Day
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Groundhog Day arrives—beyond a shadow of a doubt
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Blackbird in Essex, England
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It’s showtime for a precious crop
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Desert rose of Qatar
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What’s blooming in New Zealand?
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Siblings Day
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Teacher Appreciation Day
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National Llama Day
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Into the woods
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Penguin Awareness Day
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Not your average sandcastle
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Celebrate International Women’s Day
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Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia
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Park of the Monsters, Bomarzo, Italy
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Happy Mother s Day
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International Surfing Day