Altamura World Bread Day

The City of Bread celebrates its icon

Every autumn, the town of Altamura, in the province of Bari, rallies around the product that made its name famous worldwide: Pane di Altamura PDO, the first bread in Europe to receive the Protected Designation of Origin status. On the occasion of World Bread Day (October 16), this Alta Murgia town transforms its historic center into a grand collective narrative dedicated to grain, sourdough, and the white art passed down through generations.

A month of events blending culture and tradition

The festival, promoted by the Consortium for the Protection and Valorization of Pane di Altamura PDO in collaboration with the Municipality of Altamura, extends far beyond a single day. The program spans several weeks, from mid-October through November, alternating cultural, musical, and gastronomic appointments. The common thread remains the same: bread as the identity of the Murgia community and a heritage to be preserved.

• The Ancient Bakeries Marathon: A non-competitive walk through the historic center, visiting traditional wood-fired bakeries tucked away in alleys, churches, and squares.
• Concerts at the Teatro Mercadante: Performances dedicated to the theme of bread, featuring narrators, choirs, and orchestras, inspired by the works of great poets.
• Art and photography exhibitions: Displays set up in deconsecrated churches and historic spaces, illustrating the bread production cycle from field to table.
• Workshops and guided tours: Events at the Vito Forte Bread Museum and the Alta Murgia Ethnographic Museum, including baking demonstrations and tastings.

A recognized and protected heritage

Pane di Altamura PDO is made from re-milled durum wheat semolina from the Murgia countryside, sourdough, water, and salt, strictly baked in wood-fired ovens. Its thick crust and long shelf life are rooted in an ancient peasant tradition, already mentioned by the Latin poet Horace. World Bread Day celebrates this continuity: a craft skill that unites the bakers, millers, and farmers of the Alta Murgia.

Altamura, the heart of inland Puglia

An art city nestled among the pastures of the Alta Murgia National Park—recognized by UNESCO as a Geopark—Altamura offers visitors much more than just its bread: the majestic Cathedral commissioned by Frederick II, the historic "claustri" (courtyards), the famous Altamura Man, and the dinosaur footprint sites. Experiencing the festival means immersing yourself in a territory where gastronomy, history, and nature intertwine naturally in the heart of Puglia.