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Andria

Castel del Monte

Frederick II's octagonal enigma, eight towers of eight sides, mathematical harmonies, Murgia hilltop.

Photograph · Castel del Monte

At a glance

Castel del Monte facts that matter

Names, makers, dates, and context before the story opens up.

What it isCastle
WhereAndria, Puglia
Known forFrederick II's octagonal enigma, eight towers of eight sides, mathematical harmonies, Murgia hilltop
UNESCOWorld Heritage setting

The story

What you're looking at

Frederick II built a perfect octagon with eight octagonal towers on a Murgia hilltop, and no document explains why. Fortress, hunting lodge or stone horoscope, Castel del Monte keeps the emperor's secret on the Italian one-cent coin.

Verified details

Each statement below is linked to the record or institution that supports it.

Castel del Monte is itself the UNESCO World Heritage property Castel del Monte (398rev), inscribed in 1996 under cultural criteria (i), (ii) and (iii). It is not merely a component within another property.1

The Ministry dates the castle to the first half of the thirteenth century. Eight structures organise its design: an octagonal plan, eight octagonal towers, eight rooms on each principal level, and an octagonal inner courtyard.2

The first available dating document records 1240, and the regional museum authority identifies Frederick II as commissioner. Its use cannot be reduced to one certain purpose: official interpretation considers defensive, residential and representational functions in combination.3

Sources and citations (3)
  1. UNESCO World Heritage CentreCastel del Monte, 398revProperty recordRead source
  2. Ministero della CulturaStoria e struttura di Castel del MonteStructure descriptionRead source
  3. Direzione regionale Musei PugliaCastel del MonteHistorical notesRead source

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