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Castel-del Monte castle is called the "crown of Apulia" and consider one of the most mysterious buildings not only in Italy, but also throughout Europe. In these walls of the 8th centuries ago, amazing, mystical and, perhaps terrible things, which are still unknown, are still unknown.

Castell del Monte (or Castle on Mountain) is located in Italy, in the area of \u200b\u200bApulia. Its construction was launched by the order of Friedrich II presumably in 1240. It is interesting that in just a year before this financial condition of Spain was so deplorable that Friedrich II stopped the erection of several military fortresses. But not Castell del Monte.

A bit of history

In the history of the castle, the mass of the mysterious and unknown - and even has its own mystical number. The 8-coal form of structure and the pool, 8 towers at the edges, 8 halls on the lower floor and 8 - on the top. In the details of the architecture, you can meet the number 8 countless times: in the leaves on the columns, the pattern on the arches. By the way, the magic of numbers 8 spread to the owner of the castle - Friedrich II, however, after death. When the Cathedral of the Cathedral in Palermo opened the tomb of the king, who died in 1250 (fold the numbers), there was a mysterious ring with emerald on his hand, surrounded by golden petals, which was ... of course 8.

What to see

From afar, the Nagorny Castle seems round, but if you come closer - its unusual form becomes visible. Castell del Monte is built in the form of a regular octagon with towers in the corners. In the courtyard there was the same form of a pool, cut down from a solid piece of stone - the symbol of Holy Grail.

Castell del Monte is lonely on a secluded hill, rising to the roof, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea from the stone terrace.

It is still unknown for sure why this castle was built. Of course have official version - Friedrich II, who fond of falcony hunt, wanted to use it as a hunting house, but it's surprising that there are no rooms for servants, separate kitchens, stables in Castel del Monte. In a word, everything that should be exactly in the royal hunting residence.

But in the castle there are many fireplaces, too small in size for cooking for food, but suitable for alchemical experiments. Screw stairs, swirling not right, as required the tradition of that time, and left. Reporting doors that allow us to go unnoticed almost the entire castle, moving from one room to another. There is also a legend of a secret tunnel of almost 18 km long, leading to Ducale di Andria Castle.

Practical information

Address: Apulia, Auto Strada Statale, 170 dir. Website (in English).

You can reach by bus number 6 from Andriya (only in summer season From May to September) or on a personal car - not far from the castle there is a parking lot.

Opening hours: From October 1 to March 31 - from 9:00 to 18:30 (ticket sales up to 18:00), from April 1 to September 30 - from 10:15 to 19:45 (ticket sales until 19:15) . From December 25 to January 2, the castle is closed. Work schedule to other holidays will appear on the site.

Cost of excursion: Adults - 5 EUR, Students (18-25 years old) - 2.50 EUR. Audiogide - 3.50 EUR.





Located with a castle in Apulia, not far from the city of Andria. According to assumptions, he was built on the site of the destroyed fortress. The truth of her traces did not find it. In 1240, the King Friedrich II gives an order to build a castle on the site of the fortress. Construction lasted exactly ten years. After the end of the construction site, the ruler unexpectedly dies. From now on, all secrets began. Until now, no one knows who built the castle, and how it was used in the life of people. It is known that Friedrich was friends with the leader of the Teutonic Order. Some documents suggest that even the emperor himself consisted in the Order and was one of the masters. The construction does not matter practical, it was under the influence of the Templars. It is unlikely that its essence will understand practical minds, here it is better to think philosophically.

If you look at the structure, you can pay attention to the octagons located on the castle floors. The octagon is in an intermediate position between the square - the sign of the Earth and the circle that personifies the sky. Such buildings have always built the Templars. On the first and on the second floors there are eight rooms in the form of a trapezoid. Towers can be reached by screw staircases spinning counterclockwise. This contradicts all other buildings of past centuries, in which the stairs wrapped around clockwise. All the castle rooms are built by type of the labyrinth, it is completely incomprehensible in which of them will be the next time. It is still surprising that there is no living room in the castle, around empty bare rooms.

Inside the castle, in the courtyard there is a pool in the form of an octagon, carved from a whole marble piece. It was used for the secret rite of the "tear of the Lord", conducted by members of the order of the Templars. Under the pool there was a system of tanks for rainwater. This is one of the first examples of the ancient sewerage, preserved to the present day. The whole interior is just clogged with objects that resemble the eights. Even in the stucco on the walls there are a lot of mention of the figure eight. Why exactly "8"? The thing is that this figure symbolizes infinity and connects the sky and the ground.

If we consider the castle from the mystical side, it was used as a secret temple as a place to help come into contact with heavenly forces. Even the entrance to the construction is from the side ascending sun. Judging throughout the architecture and location, the sun plays one of the main roles. At noon, it throws away the shadow in such a way that the outlines completely repeat the proportions of the castle. During the summer solstice, the shadows of rectangular shape appear, discarded so that the castle turns out to be exactly in the middle. Two lions are located on the inlet columns, looking directly at the sunrise points.

If we consider the practical side of the use of the castle, that everything is simple here. Scientists found out that Friedrich II loved the hunt for Sokolov. He even wrote a whole book about these birds with his own drawings. It is likely that Castell del Monte was used as a hunting castle or for important events.

Our time Castel Del Monte

For many years, the castle did not belong to any of the states. However, in 1876 he was purchased by the state, in whose territory it was all time. He was renovated and twenty years counted to the list World Heritage. Currently, the castle has become a tourist facility that attracts tourists with its unusual form and mystical history.

About Castle

Del Monte Castle (Castel del Monte) Lonely towers on the secluded Western Murge hill in the desert terrain of the city of Andria Bari Province, at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. Modern name The lock complex received only at the end of the XV century, the initial name was not preserved. Named Castel Del Monte castle was in honor of the one-alone old settlement at the foot of the hill, on which there was a small monastery of Santa Maria del Monte. Often local residents Andry is called His "Crown of Apulia."

Historians believe that Castel Del Monte was conceived as a hunting residence, but the inner decoration of the rooms was too richly decorated and furnished with luxurious furniture for such purposes.

Castel del Monte is a two-story facility with a flat roof. Externally, the Palace is the right octagon with a length of each of the parties equal to 16.5 meters.

Each corner rises a magnificent octagonal tower. Exactly in the center of height throughout the perimeter of the castle complex stretched narrow eaves, which performs the function of visual separation of the floors. The upper cornice separates the base of the palace and is located at an altitude of 2 meters.

The inner courtyard of the castle Castel Del Monte in shape corresponds to the outlines of the building itself. The height of the structure from the inside of the courtyard is 20.5 meters, only the corner towers are proudly swept away. On the roof of the castle neatly in the form of a Christmas tree posted a paved terrace with a stunning panoramic view of the sea.

The facade of the central entrance is facing the eastern side. On the western wall there is a second spare entrance. The building is built from polished limestone, and only round columns, decorative framework of windows and facades are made of high-quality marble. Each of the external walls has two windows, on the first one - the same one, on the second - two-day. A bright northern sides decoration on the second floor is one single window with three arches. The internal apartments in the form are the correct trapezium. In the castle, only 16 full rooms - eight on every floor. Despite the fact that all apartments have a similar shape, they are distinguished by the doorway. Two large hall of the castle Castel del Monte have exits on both sides of the building and are connected to neighboring halls, while they do not have an entrance courtyard. In addition to the passing premises, there are in the fortress and end rooms with one door in the corridor. The brightest of such premises is the throne room.

Corner towers serve as wardrobes, bathrooms and screw stairs. Moreover, the arrangement of the restrooms Castel Del Monte proves a high level of sanitary standards in the civilized society of the Middle Ages. All toilets were well ventilated using the slots made in the walls and washed with water from the tanks mounted on the roof. Interesting fact It is that the stairs are tightered not traditionally on the right side, but in the left, like nature physiology, as, for example, the snail shell is spinning.

There is a legend that the romantic and mysterious Castel Del Monte has a secret underground eighteen kilometer tunnel in Ducale di Andria Castle, and a four-kilometer passage to the Castello Di Canosa Castello Fortress.

History

Castle Castel del Monte was built by the Emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire by Friedrich II, who thought over the bright and original design for the fortress. Until now, historians argue about the construction of the complex. According to one documents it becomes clear that the Decree of Friedrich II came out in 1237 and states about the construction of a new castle in Santa Maria di Monte.

From other documents it follows that the King Decree dates back to 1240 and encouraged to renovate the fortress previously built by Lombard Robert Zhiscar and his son Roger Norman in 1073.

In any case, Castell del Monte acquired a modern view of Friedrich II and has similarities with other fortifications of this era, designed to protect against an external enemy, such as Barletta, Barry, Brindisi, Cosenza, Joe del Coll, etc.

In 1266 in the war for domination over the territories of Sicily and Naples, the son of Friedrich Manfred was struck and killed. It put an end to the board of the Swabian dynasty in Italy. The winner of the Battle of Benevento Carl Anjui sharpened in the castle of minor children Manfred - Friedrich, Heinrich and Enzo, where they spent as many as 33 years old. After that castle Castel del Monte from time to time was used for wedding ceremonies.

In 1459, the fortress went to the possession of a notable Italian family of Señora Ferranta Aragon. And in 1656 the castle last served as a residence for the plagis of native families of Italy, which raged in the city of Andria. And after some time, Castel Del Monte was empty and only in the XIX century turned into a house of shepherds, local robbers and marauders. During this period, the castle was plundered, precious marble materials were sodished from the walls, and rich sculptures were sold.

In 1876, the strengthening was transferred to the possession of the notable family of Carafa, which took his restoration and reconstruction.

Currently, Castel Del Monte Castle is a medieval architecture monument and is open to attend everyone's tourists.

Information for tourist

Time Tour: ~ 30 min
Working hours:
March - September from 10.45 - 19.45. October - February 09.45 - 18.45, closed for Christmas and New Year.