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Visit Altamura
Altamura is an important historical town situated in the heart of the Puglia (Apulia) region of south-east Italy.
It is a traditional agricultural and pastoral center between the Upper Murgia and Basilicata, on the ancient residential complex of the “Peucezi”, which was surrounded by megalithic walls (5th - 3th century BC), which are still partly visible in some parts of the 'Corso Umberto I'. The urban fabric is organized in about 200 cloisters (places of worship of different faiths).
At the heart of Cathedral Square there is a 'monument to the fallen' from 1799 by sculptor Arnaldo Zocchi. In the 'Corso Federico II of Swabia' is the Greek Church of San Nicola dei Greci. The Portal (1576) is carved with scenes from the Old and New Testaments, while the interior contains Baroque altars and a wood ceiling. At the Porta Matera you can see the church of St. Maria del Soccorso, today called “San Francesco di Paola” (16th -18th century), annexed to the homonymous monastery expanded in 1872. On the cloister capitals (16th century) we see the Farnese coat of arms (six golden lilies on an azure field, with the addition of a silver cross on a red field). Note also the balcony overlooking the garden, very well decorated.
Altamura Cathedral is at the heart of the city and was built between 1232 and 1242 by Frederick II of Swabia, who dedicated it to the Virgin. The façade, with its two towers, has a window of the 13th century. The portal dates from the fourteenth century, and is carved with scenes from the New Testament while the rose window dates from the 16th century. Of great importance in the cathedral is the rosette, a rare example of 14th century Apulian which consists of 15 columns connected by arches, and a Gothic portal, probably from the early 15th century. It is rich with decorations and sculptures, contained in a projecting porch supported on two stone lions, redone in 1533, and guarding the entrance to the Cathedral. Carved on the arches of the portal are 22 scenes of Jesus’ life from birth until the death and resurrection. Inside the church we can also admire the stone pulpit of 1545, the choir of 1543, which consists of 68 stalls walnut wood and stone, and, above all, the crib of 1587, a work of master Altobello Persio (1507-1593).
The church and convent of San Domenico (16th century), in the Piazza Zanardelli opens on to public gardens. The interior of the Church holds paintings and marble altars of the eighteenth century and a tiled floor from the mid-eighteenth century. Along the “Via Corte d’Appello”, which leads from Piazza Duomo to Piazza Don Minzoni are the monastery and the church of “Santa Chiara” (17th century), which now gives hospitality to a community of enclosed nuns.
Also visit the Altamura Municipal Museum. The museum is developed in five sections, arranged on two floors, paleolithic, prehistoric, archaic, classical and Hellenistic Ages. At the center of the first floor is located the Exhibition Hall, where the exhibition of the 'Prehistory of food' is open to the public. In the porch there is a small section with some epigraphic Roman funeral inscriptions. On the back of the building there are some remains of archaeological excavations conducted in various locations near Altamura. Among the most famous archaeological remains of Altamura are the “Man of Altamura”. The archaeological find, uncovered in the cave of “Lamalunga” is one of the most extraordinary paleo-ontological discoveries in Europe. The skeleton is that of an adult male, height from 160 to 165 cm, whose skull has archaic elements of the Neanderthal population, allowing to fit it in the group of European Middle Pleistocene fossils, or among forms of the “Homo erectus”(400,000 years ago).
Relax in Altamura
An ancient local tradition has also given the town the recipe of the characteristic "bread of Altamura", of wheat flour baked in the old wood-burning ovens; also a traditional peasant dish made of stale bread - the so-called “cialledda”. Other typical and famous dishe are: the “orecchiette” and "capunti" mushroom, lamb and "gnumuridde" grilled, "u cutturidde" (boiled lamb with wild herbs) and the lamb of the “rezzaule”. Also to be tasted locally are the asparagus, "carboncelli" and "chicory", “ricotta”, and the almond sweets, the "griselle" and "mustazzèle" (mixed with grape wine and figs) . The so-called “Father Peppe” (a liqueur made from walnuts infused) is the most famous liquor in Altamura. In general, local wines are very 'vigorous'.
See also history of Altamura