I read the recent (and so far only) review of this TWHS and noticed our own experience of this place was exactly complementary to what was reported, so I would like to share a few words on that.

In April 2017 on our way from Bari to Matera, we made a stop in Altamura. As it was already reported, three places may be considered for “visiting” this TWHS. First the “pulo” which is a geological formation typical of karstic areas: world heritage list in already full of karstic formations, caves etc (see also the “dolines” in French WHS “Causses et Cevennes”, very similar to “pulo”). Second, Lamalunga cave, where the skeleton of a prehistoric man was found; however Unesco website indicates it cannot be visited. Only the third location was left and this is the one we decided to focus on: a former quarry with dinosaur footprints, named “de Lucia quarry”, better known locally as “cava Pontrelli”.

Coming from Altamura on road SP235, you shall turn left on a very small road just before passing the quarry, cross the railway, then immediately park on the right side of the road. There is a closed gate, but the quarry is partly fenced and it is wide open on the left side of the gate. This is the way we used to get in, as many visitors had already reported on other websites for travellers. The path gently goes down the excavated area and after ca 200 m, you reach the grey layer where dinosaurs footprints can be observed.

There are hundreds of footprints, of different sizes, unfortunately some covered by gravels or dust, directly exposed to rain, wind … and visitors. There is absolutely no information on site. The place is safe as long as you keep away from the walls of the quarry (and no need to do so to enjoy the footprints). We were very impressed, much more than when we had visited some sites of “Icnitos de dinosaurios”, formerly on Portugal and Spain tentative lists. I believe the connection between the three elements of this TWHS (“pulo”, prehistoric skeleton, footprints) is not so obvious (it seems more that they are grouped because geographically close to each other), however this component alone is promising. Back at home and looking for more information on this place, I happened to understand that it took long time to get the works stopped in the quarry (private), then to get the land in hands of local authorities, and that they are still looking for funds and agreements to have the site made “visitors friendly”, so no one can really predict when this may happen.