What to See in Altamura - Top Sights and Attractions

Piazza del Duomo is the main square of the city of Altamura, Italy. It is located in the center of the historic city center, as well as in the middle of the main street of the city, that is corso Federico II di Svevia. Moreover, Altamura Cathedral, the main church of the city, is located on the square. It is also known because the Tree of Liberty was planted in this square during the so-called Altamuran Revolution.^[1]

Cathedral in Altamura, Italy. Altamura Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Altamura, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, in southern Italy.

Since 1986 it has been the seat of the Bishop of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti, formed in that year. Previously it was the church of the territorial prelature of Altamura (from 1848, Altamura e Acquviva delle Fonti).^[2]

Porta Bari, previously called Porta de Bari, was one of the main gates of the city of Altamura, before the city walls of the city were torn down over the 19th century. Similarly to most European cities, the city walls were torn down, because the new technology and military techniques employed starting from the 19th century made them useless for defense purposes.^[3]

Cemetery in Altamura, Italy. Altamura Cemetery in Italy was established in 1942 and is still in use. It replaced the previous cemetery, which is inside the new cemetery. The area of the old cemetery is called il cimitero vecchio. The design of the entrance of Altamura Cemetery was based on the drawings of another design made by engineer Alberto Gennarini in the early years of the 20th century.^[5]

Porta Matera was one of the main gates of the old city of Altamura. They were part of the City Walls of Altamura, which were completely demolished during the nineteenth century since they had become useless for defence purposes. The gate itself was demolished in 1872. The monastery Monastero del Soccorso is located on the left side of the gate, while on the right some ruins of the city walls can be seen, presumably saved from destruction because of the bas-relief depicting "Pipino's leg".

In the past, it was known as porta montium, which is Latin and it means "the gate that leads to the mountains" of Italian region Basilicata. Nowadays, the gate is known mostly because of the Altamuran Revolution (1799).^[6]

History museum, Museum

The Epitaph of Altamura is a monument located in Altamura, Southern Italy, erected right after the visit in city, on 8 April 1807, of Joseph Bonaparte, who had just become king of Naples. The commemorative epitaph is located in largo Epitaffio. Although traditionally named epitaph, it is not a funerary inscription but a commemorative monument.^[7]

The City Walls of Altamura were a military structure meant for defensive purposes and located in the city of Altamura, Italy. Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages and it was in use until the 19th century when it started to be gradually torn down. Nowadays only a few isolated parts of the walls survive. It shouldn't be confused with the Megalithic Walls of Altamura, which date back to the 5th–4th century BC and intersect in some parts with the city walls.

Just a few maps depicting the city walls still survive and they are part of the maps Carte Rocca, commissioned by Angelo Rocca (drawings P/32 and P/33) and dating back to the end of the 16th century. Drawings dating back to earlier periods didn't survive.^[8]

Historical landmark in Italy. Pulo di Altamura is a doline located on the Murge plateau. It is the largest doline in that region and it is located about 6 kilometers north-west of the city of Altamura. It shares the local toponym pulo with other large dolines of the region, i.e. Pulicchio di Gravina, Pulo di Molfetta and Pulicchio di Toritto.^[9]