{"id":50689,"date":"2023-05-17T18:27:39","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T16:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=50689"},"modified":"2023-05-17T18:27:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T16:27:41","slug":"hidden-altamura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/hidden-altamura\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Altamura: Advice from a True Local"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Often known as the City of Bread, Altamura<\/strong> is a town in the province of Bari<\/a><\/strong> (South Italy) that encapsulates the essence of Puglia<\/strong>. Read more to discover my tips about hidden Altamura as a true local that will help you get to know the most characteristic places<\/strong> of our culture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Historical
Historical centre of Altamura, photo by Mariateresa Campanale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Surrounded by the beautiful Alta Murgia National Park<\/a><\/strong> and karst sinkholes, Altamura is one of the most characteristic places in central Apulia. This is mainly due to its all-Medieval historical centre and the fame of its product of excellence, Pane di Altamura DOP<\/strong><\/a> (Altamura bread).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that is not all. While very often hordes of tourists invade the course of the city’s historic centre, there are also many hidden places<\/strong> among the narrow streets that are beautiful to photograph and where you can enjoy our specialities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical centre <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When one goes to Altamura, the area of the city one tends to visit first is the historic centre, because it is more peculiar and of greater cultural importance. Often, however, you only linger on the main street for fear of getting lost in the myriad of streets that branch off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t be afraid to venture out! The streets in the historical centre of Altamura have a peculiarity: many of them have an end and do not find an exit in the main street. These closed streets are called ‘claustri<\/strong>‘ (cloisters) and are a valuable part of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arco Basso, photo by Mariateresa Campanale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most beautiful cloisters is the Arco Basso<\/strong> (Low Arch), which, as its name implies, stands out because of a very low arch from which one can pass to the neighbouring alley. My advice is to visit it at Christmas time as the inhabitants decorate it and deck it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Claustro Inferno<\/strong> is also a must-see. You get to it after climbing a steep flight of steps just outside the walls, passing a very narrow street where you can only proceed in a single file, and untangling yourself from a tangle of streets reminiscent of the circles of hell described by Dante, hence its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Echoes of Frederick II of Swabia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Cathedral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Altamura
Altamura Cathedral fa\u00e7ade, photo via Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta<\/strong>, erected at the behest of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia<\/strong> in the 13th century, is certainly one of the structures that stand out most to the eye when walking along the avenue dedicated to the emperor of the same name. Its most iconic elements are certainly its rose window and the lions protecting the portal, which earned it the epithet Lioness of Apulia <\/strong>in the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is most striking about the cathedral, however, is the juxtaposition of the most disparate architecture inside Byzantine-style capitals, ancient mediaeval columns, the 16th-century nativity scene and the 18th-century altar. The mixture of styles, however, does not result in a jumble of elements, but in a combination that is very pleasing to the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Altamura's
Altamura’s Cathedral, photo by Canva Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many tourists, however, do not know that it is possible to visit a somewhat hidden part of the cathedral. I am talking about the women’s galleries<\/strong>, the balconies from which women attended Holy Mass until a few centuries ago.
From here you can get a different view of the entire structure and also of the exterior overlooking Piazza Duomo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical re-enactment: Federicus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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