Casa D'Amore (D'Amore's House), Alberobello

D'Amore's House, built in 1797 by Francesco D'Amore, stands out as the first house in Alberobello constructed with terracotta and mortar, marking a significant shift in building practices. This development was possible thanks to a royal decree that allowed locals to build homes without restrictions from the Count of Conversano. A small epigraph under the balcony arch reads "EX AUCTORITATE REGIA – HOC PRIMUM ERECTUM – AD 1797," commemorating this milestone.

Situated in today's Piazza Ferdinando IV di Borbone, D'Amore's House strategic location made it visible from the residence of the Counts. The house represents a bridge between the traditional trullo houses and more modern nineteenth-century structures. Its facade hints at a more complex interior, but most rooms remain similar to those of the surrounding trullo houses, with the notable exception of the entrance room, which features a star vault instead of the typical stone cone.

A unique aspect of D'Amore's House is its raised floor, accessible via an external staircase, comprising three narrow conical rooms on different levels. The design suggests that D'Amore likely consulted a local bricklayer, known as a caseddaro, familiar with building and repairing trulli. Interestingly, even by 1843, no local architect was available to oversee new constructions, often leaving bricklayers to fulfill this role. Declared a National Monument in 1930, D'Amore's House stands as a testament to a pivotal moment in Alberobello's architectural evolution.