Altamura: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

Altamura is a town in the province of Bari. It is known above all for its delicious PDO bread and IGP lentils , but not only: also for the discovery in the nineties of the last century of the Man of Altamura , a Neanderthal man. Furthermore, due to the facts relating to the revolution of 1799, she is nicknamed the lioness of Puglia.
There are many things that attract tourists to visit this place, from the excellent food to the archaeological heritage, from the nature of the Alta Murgia National Park to its historic center, which due to the characteristics it presents can be considered a small village inside. of the city.
Here is a guide on Altamura: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening!

What to see in Altamura

1 – La Cattedrale
Photo by Untalented Guy. Along the main street of the city is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta , the cathedral of Altamura. Born in the Apulian Romanesque style, today, following various modernizations, it presents itself in Baroque style, especially inside where you can see the three naves divided by columns and pillars, and a rich wooden ceiling decorated in gold. On the outside, however, there is a valuable portal with two life-size lions as a guard at the entrance. The whole is enriched by two tall bell towers of the sixteenth century, connected to each other by a balustrade loggia surmounted by a tympanum, also visible from the outside of Altamura itself.
Admission to the Cathedral is free, except for the women’s galleries, the balconies above the side aisles. To go up, in fact, you need to buy a € 3.00 ticket for the MUDIMA (Museo Diocesano Matronei Altamura). It houses a collection of silverware, ancient codes, sculptures, and from here it is possible to admire the church from above and the external panorama.

• How to get there: in Corso Federico II di Svevia; from Piazza Municipio on foot in 3 min – Get directions
• Hours: 8: 00-12: 00 and 16: 00-20: 00
• Ticket cost: free

2 – Porta Bari
Photo of Sailko. This gate was part of the ancient walls of which very little remains today. Mark the entrance to the historic center , passing it you will enter the main street of the city, which overlooks the Cathedral.
But not only that, it is also advisable to go and look around on the sides . On one side there is the Ethnographic Museum of Alta Murgia, while in the other direction there is Via Santeramo in Colle, which goes towards the National Archaeological Museum, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, which borders the historic center to the east. Given the importance of the intersection,

• How to get there: from Piazza Municipio on foot in 2 min – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: free

3 – Ethnographic Museum of Alta Murgia
The Ethnographic Museum of Alta Murgia was born thanks to Pietro Locapo, nicknamed the “wolf of the Murgia”, collector and archaeological supervisor. In 1980 he founded the Museo della Civilta Peasant , with the aim of exhibiting his collection of about 1,000 objects concerning the agricultural-pastoral life of the Alta Murgia area.
After having sold his collection of artefacts to the Municipality, which was becoming ever larger, a phase of abandonment followed in which the objects risked deterioration. An exhibition organized on the occasion of the Festa dell’Unita in 1992 favors the recovery of about 1,200 objects. Only recently, however, in March 2010, thanks to a regional tender, did it reopen. Other artifacts have been added to the original artifacts, thanks to which the visitor can make a real journey into the world of cereal farming, sheep farming and ancient professions such as the blacksmith, the shoemaker and the carpenter.

• How to get there: Via Vittorio Veneto, 53; from Piazza Municipio on foot in 3 min – Get directions
• Hours: Tue-Wed 10: 30-12: 30; Thu-Fri 10: 30-12: 30 and 16: 00-19: 00; Sat-Sun 10: 30-12: 30 and 15: 00-20: 00
• Ticket cost: free

4 – Palazzo Baldassarre
The Palazzo Baldassarre has become a museum to tell the great discovery of the Man of Altamura . In 1993 a group of speleologists discovered in the Lamalunga cave, a few km from Altamura, the remains of a Neanderthal man , the oldest Neanderthal to whom it was possible to read the DNA. The physical reproduction of the portion of the cave where the discovery took place is exhibited here, and through the guided tour you will be told all the curiosities of the studies carried out later.
The Palace is also part of the museum network which also includes the Lamalunga Visitor Center and the National Archaeological Museum. In addition to the single ticket valid for one of these sites, it is possiblebuy an integrated one to visit 2 or 3 sites in the area to choose from among museums, cathedral, caves, farms and ovens. Highly recommended as, with the integrated ticket, you will receive a loaf of the famous Altamura PDO bread as a gift.

• How to get there: from Piazza Municipio on foot in 7 min – Get directions
• Hours: from March to May 9: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-19: 00; from June to September 10: 00-13: 00 and 14: 00-19: 00; from October to February 10: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-18: 00
• Ticket cost: € 4.00 full, € 2.00 reduced – integrated ticket 2 sites € 7.00 full, € 3.00 reduced – integrated ticket 3 sites € 9.00 full, € 4.00 reduced

5 – National Archaeological Museum
Photo by Sailko. It is here that the reproduction of the Man of Altamura we spoke about above is exhibited. It was created by the Dutch twins Adrie and Alfons Kennis, specialists in paleontological reconstructions. Thanks to them and their excellent work, today we can see him in life size, as he should have been in life, his height is estimated at around 165 cm.
In the National Archaeological Museum of Altamura the possibility is offered to understand more or less how prehistoric men thought and materially operated , both in the application of techniques and in the production of everyday objects. Of the three sites that are part of the museum network, this one has free admission.

• How to get there: Via Santeramo in Colle, 88; from Piazza Municipio on foot in 8 min – Get directions
• Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 9: 00-13: 30; Tue and Thu 9: 00-19: 00; first and second Sunday of each month 9: 00-13: 30
• Ticket cost: free

6 – The Claustri of Altamura
The so-called “claustri” are nothing more than typical closed courtyards in the urban spaces of the historic center of Altamura. The local denomination and “gnostre” and are unique in popular architecture, there are about 80 and represent the aggregation of family groups. In short, if you come across some small narrow alley, do not stop, it could lead you to a beautiful cloister.
There are two types : those in the Greek style, with the large rounded shape and a well or a tree in the center, and those in the Arabic style, narrow and long with a closed road and at the bottom a well for rainwater. Among the most picturesque and characteristic that we suggest you seethere are the Giudecca cloisters, located in Via S. Lucia, and Tradimento, located in Via G. Falconi.

• How to get there: they are mostly scattered around the streets of the historic center, reachable from Piazza Municipio on foot in 6 min – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: free

7 – The historic center
Walking through the historic center of Altamura you will come across many characteristic streets and squares and typical shops, among these you can stop in the town ovens and taste the delicious Bari focaccia and the delicious Altamura bread , still cooked today in the wood oven.
It rises inside the walls, and therefore has a circular shape , with the streets that meet at the Cathedral. The main road that “cuts” the medieval historic center into two parts is bounded by Porta Matera and Porta Bari and Corso Federico II di Svevia . You can also visit it by booking a walking tour with a local guide who will tell you the history of this city.

• How to get there: from Piazza Municipio on foot in 6 min – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: free

8 – Boscosauro and Tenuta Sabini
It is the ideal place to visit if you have children with you or if you are passionate about the theme. You can find it just outside the city of Altamura, towards the nearby Modugno. It is an open-air museum with life-size reconstructions of Jurassic dinosaurs that are also able to move and emit noises thanks to animatronics technology.
Il Boscosauro is also equipped with a wood to be explored on foot or by bike among the oak woods and pastures of the Sabini estate. And then there is also an area suitable for picnics surrounded by nature but fully equipped. The Tenuta Sabini, in addition to being a family-run farm, is a site of considerable naturalistic interest. Inside you can visit the underground pools for collecting rainwater, the caves with their finds, a splendid aviary with various species of birds considered the direct descendants of dinosaurs, and walk among more than 1,200 species of spontaneous plant plants.

• How to get there: from the center of Altamura by car in 15 min – Get directions
• Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6pm
• Ticket price: € 8.00 full, € 6.00 reduced (children up to 4 years free)

9 – Pulo di Altamura
On the outskirts of the city, in the heart of the Murgiana area, stands the Pulo di Altamura. It is the largest karst sinkhole in the Alta Murgia , located at about 477 meters above sea level. It is a naturally created crater which has a depth of 80 meters.
It is the ideal place for those who love trekking and nature excursions. The origin of the term pulo is actually unknown, and used in particular in the Murge area to indicate the sinkholes, but it is not used in other regions of Puglia, such as in the Gargano where the term sinkhole is directly preferred.
In a place not far from here, in the Lamalunga district, in the homonymous cave (closed to tourists),the aforementioned Man of Altamura was found , and therefore it can be deduced that he probably frequented the area and its caves. It is possible to book guided tours and excursions in the caves at the Lamalunga Visitor Center.

• How to get there: from the center of Altamura by car in 25 min – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: free

10 – Gravina in Puglia
Photo by Alexander van Loon. It is a town located about 13 km from Altamura and it is always recommended to stop here too during a trip to this area. Also because in terms of connections there are no problems, if you do not have a car for example you can reach it by bus in 20 minutes, one leaves every hour from Viale Regina Margherita (€ 1.10).
It too is part of the Alta Murgia National Park, and its name derives from the numerous ravines and puli found in the surrounding area. Absolutely worth seeing: the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Castle, the underground city and the 37 meter high bridge that connects the two sides of a ravine.

• How to get there: from the center of Altamura by car in 20 min, or by Trenitalia bus (20 min, € 1.10) – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: free

Altamura itinerary in one day
Photo by Sailko. Start with a breakfast at Caffetteria Del Viale (€ 3.00) just a few steps from the city gate, Porta Bari. From here, start your tour by reaching the Cathedral of Altamura , along Corso Federico II di Svevia. Afterwards, walk towards the historic center and among the characteristic streets and cloisters you can stop in the typical shops to taste a Bari focaccia and Altamura bread. Dedicate a stop of your day to the National Archaeological Museum , with the life-size reproduction of the famous Man of Altamura.
For lunch, stop by Salumeria BocconDiVino (€ 10.00).
In the afternoon you reach Palazzo Baldassarre. Before evening arrives, dedicate a little relaxation in the nature in the Murgiana area: drive (25 min) to the Pulo di Altamura , stopping at the Lamalunga Visitor Center, halfway (excursions are available to reach the entrance to the Grotta dell ‘ Man, the Grotta della Capra, the Pulo, the Mena Park).
At the end of the day, after returning to the town , stop and taste the homemade dishes of the Trattoria Federico II di Svevia (€ 20.00).

One day itinerary at a glance

1. Breakfast at Caffetteria Del Viale (Get directions)
2. Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta – opening hours: 8: 00-12: 00 and 16: 00-20: 00 – ticket price: free
3. Historic center and cloister – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
4. National Archaeological Museum – opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 9: 00-13: 30; Tue, Thu 9: 00-19: 00; first and second Sunday of each month 9: 00-13: 30 – ticket price: free
5. Lunch at Salumeria BocconDiVino (Get directions)
6. Palazzo Baldassarre – opening hours: from March to May 9: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-19: 00; from June to September 10: 00-13: 00 and 14: 00-19: 00; from October to February 10: 00-13: 00 and 15: 00-18: 00 – ticket price: € 4.00 full price, € 2.00 reduced
7. Pulo di Altamura – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
8. Dinner at Trattoria Federico II di Svevia (Get directions)

Where to eat in Altamura

1. Tre Archi : 0 kilometer Altamura dishes and pizza, also gluten-free, in a family restaurant with stone vaults
   Average price per person: € 35.00
   Address and contacts: Via S. Michele, 28 (Get directions) / tel: 080 3115569
2. Salumeria BocconDiVino : menu with an excellent choice of meat, cold cuts, wines and beers, candlelit and super cozy atmosphere
   Average price per person: € 40.00
   Address and contacts: Via Santeramo in Colle, 149 (Get directions) / tel : 080 3103489
3. Trattoria Federico II di Svevia : traditional cuisine restaurant with hearty homemade dishes, located in the center
   Average price per person: € 30.00
   Address and contacts: Via G. Luciani, 3 (Get directions) / tel: 080 3145699

What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and best clubs
As for the nightlife, in Altamura we can recommend some bars open until late where you can drink an excellent cocktail or some local wine , and why not eat some snacks. Most are concentrated in the streets of the center , this makes the atmosphere even more magical and unique. After spending your day around the country you can stop in one of these places and enjoy excellent drinks and great food.

• Caffe Ronchi Striccoli : bar perfectly in tune with the medieval center of Altamura, with excellent cocktails and the typical walnut liqueur / Address: Corso Federico II di Svevia, 87 (Get directions)
• Minnamoro : nice bar in the historic center, with cocktails for all tastes and carefully chosen products / Address: Via Scipione Ronchetti, 27 (Get directions)
• Tomodivino : wine bar where you can taste local wines and excellent bruschetta, sometimes evenings with live music are organized / Address: Claustro Francesco Sallicano (Get directions)

Plan your stay in Altamura: info and useful tips

• How to get there: by train from Bari, 1 h, the city is served by the station on the Bari-Matera line; by car, Altamura and crossroads of the SS99, SS96, SP238, SP235; by plane to Bari, then take a SITA bus (50 min, € 3.40)
• How to get around : on foot, like all medium-large cities of Puglia, only a few authorized cars can pass through the center which is ZTL (limited traffic area)
• Where to park : near the historic center in Piazza Matteotti (€ 0.80 / h, the night is free) – Get directions)
• Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 30.00 per room – see the offers
• What to see in the surrounding area : Bitonto (40 km), Cassano delle Murge (22 km), Gravina in Puglia (13 km), Matera (19 km), Castel del Monte (55 km)