Altamura

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Altamura
coat of arms
Altamura (Italy)
Altamura
Country Italy
region Apulia
Metropolitan city Bari  (BA)
Coordinates 40 ° 49 ′  N , 16 ° 33 ′  E Coordinates: 40 ° 49 ′ 0 ″  N , 16 ° 33 ′ 0 ″  E
height 436  m slm
surface 427 km²
Residents 70,563 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density 165 inhabitants / km²
Post Code 70022
prefix 080
ISTAT number 072004
Popular name Altamurani
Patron saint Sant'Irene
Website Altamura
Altamura, Porta Bari
Altamura, Porta Bari

Altamura is an Italian city ​​in the metropolitan city of Bari in Apulia with 70,563 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019).

geography

Altamura is 45 km southwest of Bari on the border with Basilicata . The neighboring municipalities are Bitonto , Cassano delle Murge , Gravina in Puglia , Grumo Appula , Matera ( MT ), Ruvo di Puglia , Santeramo in Colle and Toritto .

history

Since the 8th century BC The Murge hill, on which Altamura lies, was settled and in the 6th to 3rd century BC it was settled. Megaliths were created in the area . In the 5th century BC The Peuketeers put on the ancient acropolis , the high wall ("alta mura"). In the 9th century the city was destroyed by the Saracens . After that, Frederick II had it re-established by decree in 1230 and the cathedral was built from 1232 onwards. The city was mainly settled by Greeks and Jews from the area. In the 13th century Altamura received a city wall and was given as a fief by Charles I of Anjou . In the 18th century there was a university for 50 years that earned itself a good reputation.

Attractions

The cathedral , built from 1232, has been renovated several times since then
Pulo di Altamura
  • The main attraction is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which rises on the Piazza Duomo and which is the only church in Apulia built by order of Frederick II.
  • Medieval walls
  • Show cave / museum for the Grotta di Lamalunga, where the Altamura man was found
  • Doline Pulo di Altamura

Town twinning

sons and daughters of the town

Pane di Altamura

Culinary

  • Altamura is known in Italy for its bread, the 'pane di Altamura'.

literature

  • Felice G. Lo Porto:  Altamura, Apulia, Italy . In: Richard Stillwell et al. a. (Ed.): The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 1976, ISBN 0-691-03542-3 .
  • Ekkehart Rotter: Apulia . Trips to Byzantine grotto churches, Norman cathedrals, Hohenstaufen forts and baroque buildings in Lecce. (=  DuMont art travel guide ). 6th edition. Dumont Reise Verlag, Ostfildern 2012, ISBN 3-7701-4314-0 .

Web links

Commons : Altamura  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.