With its imposing presence, it was erected by order of Emperor Frederick II between 1232 and 1254, representing the first and oldest monument of the city of Altamura. This extraordinary building is characterized by openings with pointed Gothic arches, which testify to the influence of Arab-Norman architecture. Frederick II conceived it as a palatine chapel, granting it rights of exemption from any jurisdiction outside the sovereign one. These privileges were maintained by subsequent sovereigns until 1929, the year in which, with the Lateran Pacts, there was the historic possibility for a Pope of Rome to nominate the bishop of the cathedral.
Architecture and Facade
The cathedral’s façade is distinguished by its two tall bell towers, structured on two levels and connected by a balustraded loggia, surmounted by a tympanum, visible from afar. At the center of the small loggia is a statue of the Immaculate Virgin, while on the sides, on the tympanum, are the statues of Saints Peter and Paul. Under the loggia, the 14th-century rose window, with a 15-spoke sunburst, features a bas-relief of the Agnus Dei in the center.
The façade culminates with a portal, also from the fourteenth century, framed by a protruding porch supported by two columns, resting on two lions, dating back to 1533. At the centre of the tympanum are two coats of arms: that of the Angevins of Naples and that of the princes of Taranto and lords of Altamura. These elements allow us to date the portal between 1356 and 1374. The portal is a triumph of decorations and sculptures, depicting biblical subjects: in the lunette is depicted the Virgin enthroned with the Child and two angels, while the architrave shows the Last Supper. The arches are adorned with 22 evangelical scenes from the life of Jesus, ranging from the Annunciation to Pentecost.
Interior and History
Inside, the basilica is built on three naves, divided by columns and pillars, with galleries that give a sense of grandeur and harmony. The Byzantine-style capitals, together with vertical pillars and columns, represent the only visible evidence of the 13th-century cathedral of Frederick II. The wooden ceiling, richly decorated with gold stucco, adds further value to the interior of the church.
Over the centuries, Altamura Cathedral has undergone numerous changes. Initially, it was equipped with a lantern that housed the so-called clock house, a complex mechanism with weights and counterweights, rather than a simple sundial. This lantern was demolished in the first half of the 17th century and later rebuilt, becoming visible again in an 18th-century painting, exhibited in the council chamber of the Municipality of Altamura.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is not only a place of worship, but also an important symbol of the history and culture of Altamura, testifying to the architectural evolution and artistic influences that have characterized the region over the centuries.
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