Sheep Festival – Murgia a Morsi

A farming festival in the heart of the Murgia

The Sheep Festival – Murgia a Morsi is one of the most beloved food and wine events in Altamura, a city in the Province of Bari known throughout Puglia for its bread and a pastoral culture rooted in the traditions of the Alta Murgia. Conceived as a "great farming festival," the event brings the Murgia sheep—a symbolic animal of the local rural economy—back to the center stage, along with the authentic flavors of the Bari hinterland.

Organized by the AlGraMà cultural association (an acronym for Altamura, Gravina, and Matera) in collaboration with Confcommercio Altamura, the Madonna del Buoncammino festival committee, Slow Food Murgia, and the Consortium for the Protection of PDO Altamura Bread, the festival transforms the city's squares and streets into a journey of taste, music, and folk culture.

The sheep, queen of the Murgia table

The heart of the festival lies in the food stalls, where visitors can sample traditional pastoral dishes: pecora alla r'zzaule, roasted lamb raised by Murgia shepherds, local cheeses, and, of course, PDO Altamura Bread, the first bread in Europe to receive Protected Designation of Origin status. Tastings are paired with wines and farm-to-table products from local agricultural producers.

• Typical dishes featuring Murgia sheep and lamb
• PDO Altamura Bread and traditional baked goods
• Cheeses and dairy products from local shepherds
• Wines and products from local farms

Music, workshops, and crafts

The tastings are complemented by a rich and varied program: concerts and folk performances, street artists, workshops on taste and craftsmanship, exhibitions, and educational activities designed for children. There is no shortage of traditional rural artifacts offered by local artisans and a market area dedicated to typical products, making Murgia a Morsi a true journey into the rural identity of Altamura.

An evolving event

Over the years, the event has changed its dates and venue several times: from the early editions held at the end of summer in Piazza della Resistenza in the historic center, to more recent editions moved to July and hosted at the Lamalunga Visitor Center, at the gates of the Alta Murgia National Park. The formula, however, remains faithful to its original spirit: to promote the sheep, the bread, and the farming culture of Altamura.

Altamura and the Province of Bari

Located a few kilometers from the border with Basilicata, Altamura is one of the most fascinating cities in the Alta Murgia, famous for its Swabian Cathedral, the Altamura Man site, and a gastronomic heritage recognized far beyond the borders of Puglia. The Sheep Festival – Murgia a Morsi is the ideal opportunity to discover this territory by combining good food, tradition, and conviviality.