"Petilia" was translated as "Petilia, now Altamura", despite the coordinates given by Ptolemy unequivocally pointed toward today's Calabria. The hypothesis that Altamura was the ancient city of Petilia probably originated with Raffaello Maffei, as he was the first known author that suggested it. Leandro Alberti, instead, was the first scholar who dismissed that Altamura was Petilia in his work Descrittione [sic] di tutta Italia (1550). According to modern scholars, Petilia probably refers to the archeological remains found on Monte Stella. The new city A couple of centuries after Altamura was reportedly looted by the Saracens, it started to be inhabited again as emperor Frederick II refounded the city (1232) and ordered the construction of the large Altamura Cathedral, which became one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Apulia. In 1248, under pressure from Frederick, Pope Innocent IV declared Altamura exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bari, making it a "palatine church", that is the equivalent of a palace chapel. Altamura was ruled by various feudal families, including the Orsini del Balzo and the Farnese (1538–1734), the latter responsible of the construction of numerous palaces and churches. In the past, Altamura also had a large castle, whose construction dated back to the 11th-13th century, which has been completely demolished and is not visible anymore. In 1748 Charles VII of Naples had a university built in the city. In 1799, an important event in the history of Altamura, commonly labelled as Altamuran Revolution, took place. In February 1799, the city joined the Parthenopean Republic, after the king had fled to Palermo fearing for his safety. From 8 February 1799 to 9 May 1799, the city was self-governed and it joined the ideals spread by the French Revolution. On 9 May, Sanfedisti reached Altamura, and after a battle on the city walls, the rule of the Kingdom of Naples was restored in Altamura too. During the Risorgimento (19th century), Altamura was the seat of the Insurrection Bari Committee and, after the unification, the provisional capital of Apulia. During World War II, the transit camp known as P.G. 51 was located at Villa Serena in Altamura. Geography The city is located in the south-west area of the Metropolitan City of Bari, near the borders with the Province of Matera, in Basilicata. The bordering municipalities are Bitonto, Cassano delle Murge, Gravina in Puglia, Grumo Appula, Matera, Ruvo di Puglia, Santeramo in Colle and