Altamura and Altamura Man
The town of DOP bread, with a cathedral commissioned by Frederick II, in the heart of the Murgia; a few kilometres away a cave holds a prehistoric skeleton.
The story
On 3 October 1993 some cavers exploring the Lamalunga cave found a complete human skeleton, encased in calcite concretions: a Neanderthal who lived about 130-170 thousand years ago, one of the most complete ever found. It cannot be removed without destroying it, so it has stayed where it is: you see it through the cameras of the visitor centre. Close by is the Pulo, a sinkhole more than eighty metres deep.
Why go
To combine the oldest history in Europe with freshly baked Altamura bread and a Murgia of pastures and masserie that few people visit.
In the itineraries
Get directions ↗OpenStreetMap ↗
Saved. You'll find everything in My trip, where you can split it into days and see it on the map.
Saved on this device: you can open it even without a connection. All your saved pages are in Offline guides.
Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Altamura station, 1.2 km away (about 20 minutes on foot). Alternatively: Altamura station, 1.2 km away.
- By air. The nearest airport is Bari Airport (BRI), about 39 km away.
- Parking. There are 6 signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest (Piazza Giacomo Matteotti) is 200 m away.
- ZTL. Many Italian historic centres are limited traffic zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras: if you arrive by car, leave it outside the centre and check opening times and permits on the town council's website (your hotel may be able to register your plate).
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from April to June and from September to October, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. The wettest month is November (about 69 mm), the driest July.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 2 to 10 °C | 10° 2° | 53 |
| Feb | from 3 to 12 °C | 12° 3° | 68 |
| Mar | from 4 to 14 °C | 14° 4° | 52 |
| Apr | from 7 to 18 °C | 18° 7° | 33 |
| May | from 11 to 23 °C | 23° 11° | 44 |
| Jun | from 17 to 29 °C | 29° 17° | 32 |
| Jul | from 20 to 33 °C | 33° 20° | 29 |
| Aug | from 20 to 32 °C | 32° 20° | 37 |
| Sep | from 16 to 27 °C | 27° 16° | 43 |
| Oct | from 12 to 22 °C | 22° 12° | 64 |
| Nov | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 69 |
| Dec | from 4 to 12 °C | 12° 4° | 38 |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 478 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.