Altamura: on the trail of a thousand-year history
A journey from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages among the Altamura Man, the claustri and the legacy of Frederick II
Cross 150,000 years of history with a guided tour in the centre of Altamura. Meet the Neanderthal Man, stroll among claustri and strictule and discover the Frederician Cathedral and the treasures of the Diocesan Museum.
Experience available all year round, exclusively by reservation. Dates and times are subject to guide availability and the opening of the sites visited.
The route of the guided tour
- Meeting with the guide in the historic centre of Altamura
- Introduction to the karst territory of the Alta Murgia
- Account of the city's prehistoric origins
- Visit to Palazzo Baldassarre
- Presentation of the Altamura Man, known as "Ciccillo"
- Story of the discovery in the Lamalunga cave
- Insight into the Neanderthal who lived around 150,000 years ago
- Viewing of the multimedia path dedicated to the discovery
- 3D video in the depths of the karst cave
- Guided walk through the historic centre of Altamura
- Route through alleys, squares and ancient medieval streets
- Discovery of the characteristic claustri
- Walk along the narrow lanes called "strictule"
- Story of the city's refounding ordered by Frederick II
- Insight into the coexistence of different cultures and communities
- Visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
- Observation of the monumental façade
- Insight into the fourteenth-century portal
- Visit to the interior of the Cathedral
- Visit to the Diocesan Museum
- Route through the ancient halls of the medieval matronei
- Observation of the sacred art collections
- Conclusion of the visit in the historic centre
What the experience includes
- Licensed tourist guide service
- Guided tour lasting approximately two hours
- Introduction to the prehistoric history of Altamura
- Assistance during the visit to Palazzo Baldassarre
- Account dedicated to the Altamura Man
- Guided walk through the historic centre
- Route through claustri and strictule
- Insight into the legacy of Frederick II of Swabia
- Guided visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
- Guided visit to the Diocesan Museum
- Possibility to adapt the route to the group's needs
- Possibility to request the visit in a language other than Italian, subject to availability
Useful information
- Total duration of the visit: approximately 2 hours
- Experience available exclusively by reservation
- Minimum number of participants: 2 people
- Indicative maximum number: 40 people
- Price for groups of 2 to 3 participants: €110 per person
- Price for groups of 4 to 10 participants: €75 per person
- Price for groups of 11 to 24 participants: €45 per person
- Price for groups of 25 to 40 participants: €30 per person
- The rate applicable at exactly 25 participants must be confirmed
- The fee includes the licensed tourist guide service
- The entrance ticket to Palazzo Baldassarre is not included
- Indicative cost of admission to Palazzo Baldassarre: €4 per person
- The entrance ticket to the Diocesan Museum is not included
- Indicative cost of admission to the Diocesan Museum: €8 per person
- Indicative total for admissions not included: €12 per person
- Ticket rates must be reconfirmed at the time of booking
- Any admission to the Cathedral is subject to opening hours
- The visit to the Cathedral may vary during religious celebrations
- The visit to the Diocesan Museum is subject to opening days and hours
- The video and multimedia path are available according to Palazzo Baldassarre's arrangements
- The route may be modified or reversed for organisational reasons
- The meeting point is communicated upon confirmation
- The tour takes place mainly on foot
- Comfortable shoes are recommended
- The route crosses alleys and streets with historic paving
- The visit may not be fully accessible to people with reduced mobility
- Any accessibility needs must be communicated in advance
- Transport to and from Altamura is not included
- Parking is not included in the fee
- Italian is provided in the standard formula
- Foreign languages are available on request and subject to confirmation
- Any supplement for a foreign-language guide must be stated in the quotation
- The fee is calculated based on the actual number of participants
- Payment and cancellation conditions are communicated at the time of booking
- Availability, prices and admissions must be reconfirmed before the visit
