Castel del Monte; the castle depicted on the Italian coin.

Have you ever wondered what the imposing building on the back side of the Italian 1 cent coin is? It is one of the oldest Castles in Italy with the most outstanding architectural characteristics, known as the Castel Del Monte. It is located in the National Park Alta Murgia, in the province of Andria and it was built in around 1240 by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. Even though it is not noticeable at first sight, it is is said that it has never been completely finished.

- UNESCO Committee in the World Heritage List

Special architectural features

It is described as a unique piece of medieval architecture because of its extraordinary design, its location and the mathematical and astronomical precision of its layout. It was built on a point that during the solstice and equinox, the shadows of the walls face towards a certain direction. At the entrance there are two lions, both looking at the two points of the horizon, where the sun rises during the summer and where it solstices during the winter . From far the castle looks like the crown of Frederick II, in a rectangular shape. Even the position of the stairs has been made in a particular way: when someone leaves the castle, it's impossible to turn his back to the F letter (initial of Frederick II), which you can see dividing the door with an imaginary line in the middle.

Another interesting fact is that the number 8 is recurring very often: the octagonal shape of the layout, as well as of the inside space, the 8 towers on the 8 vertexes, the 8 internal rooms, the 8 clover flowers on the left side of the portal, the other 8 on the bottom side, the 8 leaves on the capital of the pillars and the 8 leaves on the keystone. At the same time, the three mullioned windows of the building are pointing to the city of Andria.

Castel del Monte

76123 Andria, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italie

Parco Nazionale Alta Murgia

Via Firenze 10, 70024 Gravina in Puglia

Located a 50-minute drive from Bari, the surrounding area of the castle is also a perfect spot to enjoy a picnic in the nature or to have lunch or dinner in one of the Masseries (usually family owned restaurants or guest houses), where food and wine produced in this area are being served.