The lammìe of Bernalda are traditional rural buildings of the Ionian Basilicata, widespread in particular in the agricultural area of Bernalda and the surrounding countryside of Metapontino. They represent one of the most characteristic spontaneous architectures of southern Italy, closely linked to rural life and the management of the fields.
What are laminae
The lammia (from the Latin lamina, stone slab) is a rural construction made of local stone masonry, usually rectangular in shape and covered by a stone vault. It was used as:
temporary shelter for farmers,
storage of agricultural tools,
warehouse for harvest products,
seasonal shelter while working in the fields.
Unlike Apulian trulli, lammìe are not permanent dwellings, but functional structures linked to agricultural activity.
Architectural features
The lammìe of Bernalda have clearly recognisable recurring elements:
Dry or poor mortar masonry made of local limestone
Very high wall thicknesses to ensure thermal insulation
A single opening, often a narrow door, to reduce heat loss
Absence of windows or small slits
Vaulted roof, a distinctive feature of the lammia
The simplicity of construction met practical, economic and environmental needs.
Because they were built with the vault
The stone vault was not an aesthetic choice, but an extremely effective technical solution:
Structural stability
The vault distributes the weight evenly over the load-bearing walls, making the construction solid and durable even without the use of wooden beams, a rare and expensive material.
Resistance to weathering
The curved shape favours rainwater runoff and better withstands the strong winds typical of the open areas of the Ionian coast.
Natural thermal insulation
The mass of the stone keeps the interior cool in summer and relatively warm in winter, creating an ideal microclimate for storing food and tools.
Use of local materials
The stones used often came from the reclamation of fields, turning an agricultural obstacle into a building resource.
Historical Origins
Lammies spread between the 18th and 19th centuries, in conjunction with:
the intensification of agricultural activities in the Metapontino area,
land reclamation works,
the need to guard the fields away from the built-up area.
They are the result of construction knowledge passed down orally, without written plans, based on the direct experience of local farmers and master masons.
Cultural value today
Today, Bernalda's lammìe are considered testimonies of rural archaeology. Many are in a state of abandonment, others have been recovered and transformed into:
modern agricultural warehouses,
support points for tourist activities,
small exhibition or teaching spaces.
They tell a story of peasant ingenuity, adaptation to the land and ante litteram sustainability, becoming an identifying element of the Lucanian landscape.
Below is a clear and structured comparison of lammìe, trulli, jazzi and pajare, four rural stone architectures typical of southern Italy, united by the use of local materials but profoundly different in function, form and historical context.
Lammìe (Basilicata - Bernalda, Metapontino)
Main function: agricultural
Use: storage, temporary shelter for farmers, storage of crops
Shape: rectangular plan
Roof: stone vault (barrel or ribbed)
Construction technique: local stone, dry or poor mortar masonry
Openings: one door, no windows
Residential use: no, only seasonal
👉 Lammas are essential and functional structures, designed to work the land, not to live in it permanently.
Trulli (Apulia - Itria Valley)
Main function: residential and agricultural
Use: permanent or seasonal dwelling, sometimes with mixed functions
Shape: circular or square plan
Roof: dry stone cone
Construction technique: drywalling without mortar
Openings: doors, windows, internal niches
Residential use: yes
👉 Trulli are the most evolved expression of rural stone architecture, suitable for everyday life and now a UNESCO heritage site (Alberobello).
Jazzi (Apulia - Murgia and Gargano)
Main function: pastoral
Use: shelter for flocks and shepherds during transhumance
Form: wall complexes and multiple environments
Roofing: mixed (stone vaults, flat roofs, open spaces)
Construction technique: dry stone
Openings: wide fences and accesses
Residential use: only temporary for shepherds
👉 The jazzi are not individual buildings but architectural systems linked to pastoralism and the seasonal movement of animals.
Pajare (Apulia - Salento)
Main function: agricultural
Use: storage, temporary shelter, field control
Shape: circular or quadrangular
Roof: false dome or stone vaulting
Construction technique: dry stone
Openings: low door, rare slits
Residential use: no, occasional
👉 Pajare are similar to trulli but smaller, spartan and non-dwelling, typical of the Salento agricultural landscape.
Synthetic comparison
| Type | Function | Form | Coverage | Residential use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lammìe | Agricola | Rectangular | Stone vault | ❌ No |
| Trulli | Residential/agricultural | Circular | Cone | ✅ Yes |
| Jazzi | Pastoral care | Complex | Mixed | ⚠️ Temporary |
| Pajare | Agricola | Circular/square | Dome/vault | ❌ No |
Key differences
Lammìe → maximum agricultural functionality, simple form, vaulted roof
Trulli → real dwellings, more comfort and internal articulation
Jazzi → collective structures linked to transhumance
Pajare → Small service architectures in the fields of Salento
In summary
These architectures tell of four different ways of living and working the land:
settled agriculture (lammìe),
rural residence (trulli),
itinerant pastoralism (jazzi),
extensive farming (pajare).
The lammìe of Basilicata are different from those of Puglia, even though the name is the same and the construction origin is common. The differences concern function, form, building technique and historical context. Below is a clear and precise comparison.
Lammìe of Basilicata (Bernalda, Metapontino, Materano)
These are the “original” lammìe, linked to the Lucanian agricultural tradition.
Key features
Function: purely agricultural (storage, farmers' shelter, crop preservation)
Shape: simple rectangular plan
Roof: stone vault (barrel or ribbed)
Technique: local stone with poor or semi-dry mortar
Openings: one door, no or minimal windows
Residential use: no, only temporary
Context
Isolated countryside
Spontaneous peasant building
Construction between the 18th and 19th centuries
👉 They are rustic, essential buildings, born to work the land, not live in it.
Apulian Lammìe (Itria Valley, Barese, Brindisi)
In Apulia, the term lammia often indicates a different architectural evolution.
Key features
Function: agricultural and housing
Shape: rectangular or articulated in several rooms
Roof: stone vaulting, sometimes flanked by cones (trulli)
Technique: more finished masonry, often plastered
Openings: large doors, windows present
Residential use: yes, also permanent
Context
Masserias and Rural Complexes
Greater economic availability
Integration with trulli and courtyards
👉 Apulian lammia is often a “rural house”, not just a warehouse.
Key differences at a glance
| Appearance | Basilicata | Apulia |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Agricola | Agricultural + residential |
| Residential use | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Coverage | Stone vault | Volta / vaults + trulli |
| Finishes | Very rustic | More care |
| Openings | Minimum | More numerous |
| Context | Isolated countryside | Masseria, rural complex |
Why the difference?
-
In Basilicata lammia began as functional shelter to work fields far from the country.
-
In Apulia evolves in response to:
-
greater agricultural stability,
-
presence of structured farms,
-
integration with the architecture of the trullo.
-
In practice, same construction idea, but two different outcomes:
-
in Basilicata → working tool,
-
in Apulia → place of rural life.
Final Synthesis
Lucanian lammìe are more ancient, Spartan and agricultural;
Apulian lammìe are more evolved, inhabited and integrated into the rural landscape.
The difference between the materials used in Apulian and Lucanian lammìa directly reflects geology, local availability and the function of the building. Below is a technical but clear analysis.
Materials from the Lucanian lammìa (Basilicata - Metapontino, Materano)
Stone
Rough, thick local limestone:
irregular,
not square,
recovered directly from the reclamation of the fields.
Use of medium and large stones to increase wall mass.
Binders
Mortar poor in lime and earth, or:
semi-dry technique, with very little binder.
Structure
Very thick walls (load-bearing and thermal function).
Solid stone vault (barrel or ribbed), made of rough ashlars.
Finishes
Absence of plaster or freshly finished surfaces.
Bare interiors, without structured flooring (rammed earth or stone).
👉 Objective: durability, economy, agricultural functionality.
Apulian lammìa materials (Valle d'Itria, Barese, Brindisino)
Stone
More compact and workable limestone, such as:
chianca,
well-squared local limestone.
Greater dimensional uniformity of the blocks.
Binders
More refined lime mortar, used on a regular basis.
In some cases mixed masonry (stone + structural mortar).
Structure
Thick but more orderly and regular load-bearing walls.
Better finished stone vaults; sometimes supplemented with trullo cones.
Finishes
White lime plaster (protection and hygiene).
Flooring in:
chianche,
stone slabs,
earthenware.
👉 Objective: habitability, comfort, rural representation.
direct comparison of materials
| Element | Lammìa lucana | Apulian Lammìa |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | Rough, irregular | Squared, machined |
| Provenance | Reclaimed fields | Local quarries |
| Binder | Absent or poor | Structured lime |
| Masonry | Rustic, massive | Neat and tidy |
| Plaster | Absent | Present |
| Flooring | Earth/rough stone | Chianche, cocciopesto |
Why the difference in materials?
Geology: in Apulia, limestone is more homogenous and easier to work.
Rural economy: in Basilicata subsistence farming; in Apulia more structured agriculture.
Function: temporary storage and shelter vs. rural dwelling.
Technical summary
Lucanian lammìa uses poor, raw materials that are optimised for durability.
Apulian lammìa employs more worked and finished materials, designed to be experienced.