Altamura: My Kind of Town!

Located just 40 kilometers from the Adriatic port city of Bari (and just 19 kilometers from the ancient city of Matera); the medieval village of Altamura is - as the song goes - my kind of town! Altamura - which literally means "High Walls" due to its strategic location -also enjoys the nickname "Lioness of Puglia" thanks to its proud and noble past as well as its historical and cultural significance. That's all well and good, but all I know is from a visitor's perspective the town of Altamura satisfies all the things I yearn for in a day trip: cool things to visit and take pictures of and inexpensive places to eat and drink. So with that in mind, tug on a comfortable pair of walking shoes, grab your camera and follow me!

As medieval cities go, Altamura is high on my list: photo ops include the impressive Cathedral of Altamura (dedicated to King Frederick II and one of four such cathedrals in the Puglia region), a Centro Storico that will make you feel like you stepped out of a scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, some way-cool cave on the outside of town. But one thing you should not miss - especially if you have kids (or even if you still feel like one) are Altamura's famous DINOSAUR PRINTS! Lest you think all that was happening in Altamura back in the day was pasta and wine think again:

Just four kilometers from the town en route to the town of Santeramo, in a quarry located in the small village of Pontrelli, a huge fossil field still sits showcasing dinosaur footprints ossified into the quarry's limestone mass. According to the site visitaltmura.it hundreds specimens of varying sizes -- and now know to belong to at least 5 different species of ankylosaurs - are still preserved for your further enjoyment and study.

Altamura's dino-prints, thanks to their excellent quality of preservation and the large number, are some of the best in the world and are still being studied.

There's an old saying that goes, "Where lead the tracks of beasts follow the tracks of man." And sure enough, the presence of humans in Altamura is ancient: the remains of "the men of Altamura" date back as "recent" as 400,000 years ago when tribes were living in the grottos of Lamalunga.

The most famous inhabitant (the Caveman of Altamura) is a fairly recent discovery: in 1993, the Centre Altamurano Research and Speleology was exploring one of the grottos of Lamalunga when they chanced upon the unique human skeleton remains of someone from the middle Pleistocene age. The caves lend credence to what has generally been common knowledge: long before the medieval towns so typical of the Puglia region were established, early man was living in less austere surroundings.

Meanwhile back in the city proper, Altamura's Centro Storico is not to be missed: the Piazza Zanardelli overlooks the elegant church and Convent of San Domenico (now the location of the Altamura historical archives, library and Museum). Inside of the Church, paintings and altars showcase Baroque art from the mid-1700's. Just outside the city there is the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Buocammino, which has an annual Easter celebration and procession. The Church of San Michele Arcangelo is another highpoint as well as many other opulent buildings that bear witness to the noble families of Altamura.

Before I forget let me tell you of a few places to grab a bit to eat. Altamura has its share of "fast-food" eateries, but I kind of like to eat somewhere that speaks of the local area. Tops on my list is Ristorante Del Corso U' Cicatidde (Corso Federico II di Svevia 76) tel: 080-3143036. Closed on Wednesdays. Maybe a little steep for some - a great meal runs about 25 euro - but you'll eat like there's no tomorrow. Plus, after all that walking and exploring you'll be hungry!

The medieval town of Altamura: dinosaurs, cavemen and culture: just another reason why I enjoy the Puglia region so much!