Altamura

Altamura is a town of Apulia, Italy, in the Bari Province, 28 miles (45 km) southwest of the city of Bari close to the border with Basilicata, currently with about 67,000 inhabitants (Altamurani).

It possesses a fine Romanesque cathedral begun in 1232 and restored in 1330 and 1531, the portal being especially remarkable. It is one of the four Palatine churches of Apulia, the others being the cathedral of Acquaviva, the Basilica of San Nicola of Bari and the church of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano. The surrounding territory is fertile. The medieval walls, erected by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, rest upon the walls of an ancient city of unknown name. These early walls are of rough blocks of stone without mortar. Ancient tombs with fragments of vases have also been found, and there are cases which have been used as primitive tombs or dwellings, and a group of some fifty tumuli near Altamura.

The opera composer Saverio Mercadante (1795&ndash'1870) was born at Altamura.

The 400,000 year old calcified Altamura Man was discovered in the nearby limestone cave, grotta di Lamalunga.

The 31st tank regiment of the Italian Army is stationed at Altamura.