Altamura Cathedral & Old Town
Cattedrale di Altamura
A small town home to a Romanesque cathedral commissioned by Frederick II, famous for its DOP-certified Altamura bread and the “Altamura Man” fossil.
Altamura is about 20 km north of Matera. The cathedral was begun in 1232 on the orders of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Its main portal is richly carved, and the two bell towers were added later. In the old town’s narrow lanes, you will find many traditional bakeries, so be sure to try the DOP bread with its thick crust. On the outskirts of the town, the Lamalunga Cave yielded the skeleton of “Altamura Man,” a Neanderthal dating back about 150,000 years, which you can learn about in the archaeological museum. The drive takes about 25 minutes.
Opening hours
Cathedral approx. 8:00–12:00, 16:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Gravina in Puglia Aqueduct Bridge
- San Pietro Barisano
- Sasso Barisano
- Palombaro Lungo
- Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio
- Madonna delle Virtù & San Nicola dei Greci
- Sassi di Matera
- Matera Cathedral