Castel del Monte

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Castel del Monte, which is Italian for "Castle of the Mountain", stands on a hill in Andria, in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. It was built in the 1240s by King Frederick II, who had inherited the land from his mother. The castle is famous for its bold eight-sided plan, with an octagonal tower at each of the eight corners and an octagonal courtyard in the middle.

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At a glance

Country: Italy
Location: Andria, Italy
Built: 1240
Type: Castle

Quick answers

Where is Castel del Monte?

Castel del Monte is in Andria, Italy.

When was Castel del Monte built?

Castel del Monte was built in 1240.

Frederick II’s perfectly octagonal castle, with an octagonal tower at each of its eight corners.

UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 1996 and called it a unique masterpiece of medieval military architecture. It is also pictured on the Italian one-cent euro coin. The castle sits 540 metres above sea level, and from the hilltop you can see across the countryside, which in the 13th century was known for rich farmland and plenty of water.

Was it really a fortress?

Nobody is completely sure. The castle has no moat and no drawbridge, so some experts think it was never meant to be a defensive stronghold. Archaeologists, however, have found hints that it once had an outer wall. A paper from 1240 shows Frederick ordering a governor to finish some of the work there, but the castle was never fully finished. There is no proof that he used it as a hunting lodge, which many people used to believe.

What happened to it later?

Over the centuries the castle was used as a prison and as a refuge during a plague, and then it fell into disrepair. Its marble walls and columns, as well as many furnishings, were stripped out, and in the 18th century the interior marbles were removed. The Italian state took ownership in 1876, and restoration began in 1928. Today the strong geometry of the building still amazes visitors.