Photo: dott. ing. Fabrizio Berloco, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fortress / Tower
Megalithic Walls of Altamura
Fortifications dating from the 4th century BC
Altamura (BA), Puglia (Apulia)
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 40°49′49″ N, 16°33′48″ E
- Address
- Via Mura Megalitiche
History and description
The Megalithic Walls of Altamura (Italian: Mura megalitiche di Altamura) are defensive walls dating back to the 4th century BCE. They were the city walls of the ancient city of Altamura, Italy. Nowadays, only a few parts of the original wall remain; the original track of the wall spanned over a length of about 3.6 km. They were about 4 meters high, while the base of the walls was about 5 meters wide.
The megalithic walls are often confused with the city walls of today's Altamura historic center, of which fragments remain today in some parts as well. The two walls refer to different time periods and to different parts of the city: the megalithic walls refer to the ancient city, which was later abandoned or sacked, while the walls of Altamura historic center refer to the period starting from the founding of Altamura by king Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (13th century AD).
Cesare Orlandi
Cesare Orlandi, in his work Delle città d'Italia (1770), mentioned the wall and suggested that the name of the city of Altamura might be due to its megalithic walls. He also mentioned a large number of archaeological findings of that period, which occurred very close the megalithic walls and that now have been lost.According to the common opinion, Altamura was said to be placed on top of highest part of an ancient wall, which still exists, and it is believed to be older than the time the city was refounded by the emperor Frederick II. This ancient wall, made of large square stones, is about three miles long; starting from the top and spreading along the base of the hill, facing towards the North. Up to the present time, such a wall preserves the ancient remains of three of its gates, and it embraces some small roads, and landed wells. Along the foot outside this wall, and in its vicinity, ancient sepulchres, with human bones, of both precious and low-metal medals, Greek and Roman, are found from time to time under the ground; household tools, perpetual lamps, with asbestos wicks: basins, lacrimal urns [..]. From similar findings, it is inferred that such an old wall belonged to a sacked city.
Rocca maps
Inside Rocca map P/33, commissioned by Angelo Rocca and stored inside Angelica Library, Rome, some memorial stones can be seen on the megalithic walls. At the end of the 16th century, those memorial stones were still present, before being destroyed at a certain point.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Megalithic Walls of Altamura».
Photos
Getting there
AltamuraTrain, nearest
1.3 km as the crow flies
Megalithic Walls of AltamuraVia Mura Megalitiche
Aeroporto di Bari-Palese37.7 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore fortresses and towers in Puglia (Apulia)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Megalithic Walls of Altamura?
Megalithic Walls of Altamura is in Altamura, in the province of Bari (Puglia (Apulia)), Italy. Address: Via Mura Megalitiche. GPS coordinates: 40.83024, 16.56322.
What else is there to see near Megalithic Walls of Altamura?
Nearby you’ll find: National Archaeological Museum of Altamura (500 m away), Porta Foggiali (700 m away), Porta dei Martiri (700 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 5 photos
- Mura megalitiche di Altamura - Via Cassano — dott. ing. Fabrizio Berloco, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mura megalitiche di Altamura - Via Cassano (2) — dott. ing. Fabrizio Berloco, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mura megalitiche di Altamura 01 — Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- City Walls of Altamura - corso Umberto I — Kakag49662, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mura megalitiche al crepuscolo — PietroAmendolara, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences