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Altamura (:ˌaltaˈmuːra) is a city and ''comune'' of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is located on one of a hill of the Murge plateau in the province of Bari, South-West of Bari, close to the border with Basilicata. As of 2011 its population was of 70,288.〔 (Source: ) Comune of Altamura 12-31-2013〕 The city is known for its particular quality of bread called Pane di Altamura, which is sold in numerous other Italian cities. According to the Latin poet Horace: "...for water is sold here, though the worst in the world; but their bread is exceeding fine, inasmuch that the weary traveler is used to carry it willingly on his shoulders."〔Horace, I, Book V Satire〕 The 130,000-year-old calcified Altamura Man was discovered in the nearby limestone cave, called ''grotta di Lamalunga''. ==History== The area of modern Altamura was densely settled in the Bronze Age (La Croce settlement and necropolis). The ancient city was known as ''Altilia'', from ''Alter Ilium'', the "other Troy". According to a legend, it was indeed founded by a friend of Aeneas, Antellus, also a fugitive from the Asian city destroyed by the Greeks. Another legend attributes the foundation to Althea, queen of the Myrmidons. The region contains some fifty tumuli. Between the 6th and the 3rd century BCE a massive line of megalithic walls was erected. From the following century, however, the importance of the city decayed. It recovered some importance when the Emperor Frederick II refounded the city and ordered the construction of the large Altamura Cathedral in 1232, which became one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Apulia. In 1248, under pressure from Frederick, Pope Innocent IV declared Altamura exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bari, making it a "palatine church", that is the equivalent of a palace chapel. Altamura was ruled by various feudal families, including the Orsini del Balzo and the Farnese (1538–1734), the latter responsible of the construction of numerous palaces and churches. In 1748 Charles VII of Naples had a University built in the city. In 1799 the city rebelled against the Bourbon government: the revolt, however, was suppressed two days later and the city sacked by Fabrizio Ruffo's troops. During the Risorgimento (19th century), Altamura was the seat of the Insurrection Bari Committee and, after the unification, the provisional capital of Apulia. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Altamura」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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