Castle del Monte
Castle del Monte (Castle of the Mount) is located in the region of Apulia, in the municipality of Andria, Italy. Built in the 1240s as a hunting lodge for Emperor Frederick II and later used as his seat of power. The castle’s location has symbolic significance, and the octagonal-shaped building is laid out in mathematical and astronomical precision. It has octagonal towers at each angle. The fortress has two floors constructed of limestone, white marble, and coral breccia. Grand staircases connect the levels in the towers, and each floor has eight interconnected chambers. The rooms were once lavish and decorated with polychrome marble, mosaics, paintings, and tapestries. The castle hasn’t undergone any significant structural alterations, but in the 18th century, much of the deteriorated interior marble and mosaics were removed or stolen. The fortress was used as a prison and as a refuge during a plague. The castle has elements of the Islamic Orient, North European Cistercian Gothic, and classical antiquity. It is considered to be an interesting example of medieval military architecture. The interiors boast Eastern influences, like the hydraulic installation used for bathing according to Arabic customs and a plumbing system that uses rainwater for the bathrooms. Castle del Monte was acquired by the Italian State in 1876 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Castle del Monte is open to the public.









