Gravina Cathedral

The Cathedral of Altamura was built by Emperor Frederick II (1220-1250) in 1232 and became one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Puglia. In 1248, under pressure from Emperor Frederick, Pope Innocent IV declared Altamura exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Bari, making it a Palatine Church, one of the four in Puglia. The current orientation of the church is the opposite of the original, although it is not known whether the change dates back to the reign of Robert of Anjou (early 14th century) or to the enlargement carried out in 1521-1547. From the 18th century onwards, the upper parts of the two bell towers and the small gallery separating them were added. Since 1986, the church has been the seat of the Bishop of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti.

Irsina Cathedral is said to have been rebuilt after a fire in the Romanesque style in 988; it was again rebuilt and enlarged after a sack in 1133. The church was substantially modified in the Baroque style in the 18th century and consecrated in 1802. Only the bell tower, in addition to the Romanesque crypt, has retained its original appearance, Romanesque in the lower part and Gothic in the upper part, with mullioned windows and hanging arches. A major restoration, which lasted over a year, was completed in early 2016.

The Cathedral of Matera was built between 1230 and 1270, with stones extracted from the nearby quarries of Vaglia. It has kept its original Pugliese Romanesque style. It mixes Norman, Lombard and slightly oriental influences. The interior was refurbished in the 16th and 17th centuries with a Baroque touch.