The cathedral built by the Emperor
The historical centre is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1232 by Emperor Frederick II, the same ruler who was behind Castel del Monte. The building is an example of Romanesque-Gothic art and is decorated with a magnificent portal with reliefs and an elegant rosette window. The streets around the cathedral are a tangle of stone houses and small courtyards called claustri, and the atmosphere of the old days is there at every turn.
City of Bread
Altamura is famous for its bread DOP - Pane di Altamura. This loaf with its crispy crust and soft crumb has been baked according to tradition since Roman times and the recipe is strictly protected. The bread from Altamura is so unique that even Horatius himself wrote about it in ancient times! A visit to one of the local bakeries and a taste of a freshly baked loaf is an experience to remember.
A history that dates back to prehistoric times
Altamura is also the site of unique archaeological discoveries. In the Grotta di Lamalunga cave, the almost perfectly preserved skeleton of a Neanderthal man, the so-called Homo di Altamura, was found in 1993, which is more than 130,000 years old. There are also dozens of prehistoric sites and dinosaur footprints around the town, making the area literally an open history book.
A gourmet experience
As well as bread, the local cuisine is worth sampling: pasta orecchiette with tomato sauce, oven-roasted lamb, fresh cheeses such as burrata and caciocavallo, and wines from nearby vineyards (such as Primitivo). Altamura is the ideal place for a gourmet stop on the road between Bari and Matera.
Altamura - a pearl in the heart of Puglia
If you are looking for a place where history, culture and gastronomy combine, Altamura is the ideal choice. Stop here on your way around Puglia, have a piece of still warm bread, walk through the historic centre and soak up the atmosphere of a town that has kept its authenticity.
