Castel del Monte, Gothic castle on Monte Imperiale hill near Andria, Italy.
This castle rises as an octagonal plan with eight corner towers on a hilltop and is built from local limestone and marble. The interior rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, with each floor maintaining the same geometric division.
Frederick II ordered preparations for a castle near the church of Santa Maria del Monte in a letter of 1240, and construction ran until around 1250, probably without the interior ever being finished. From the 16th century the building was stripped of its marble fittings and later served as a prison and shelter; Italy bought it in 1876 and restored it from 1879 and again between 1975 and 1981.
The name refers to the exposed position on a gentle hill from which the surrounding land could once be surveyed over long distances. The geometric forms and symmetrical layout show that the patron placed great value on order and proportion.
The main portal faces east and is reached by two symmetrical stair ramps arranged in pincer on its sides, rebuilt in 1928; there is no step-free route to the entrance. Inside, the two floors are connected by stairs, and only three of the eight corner towers contain spiral staircases. The entrance room holds the ticket desk, and the room to its right, now a souvenir shop, is the only way through to the inner courtyard.
The location was chosen so that during the equinox, light falls through certain windows and doors, creating special light effects inside. This astronomical alignment shows how carefully the planning was done.
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