Castel del Monte is a thirteenth-century fortress-like building on a hill in the Apulia region of southern Italy, near the town of Andria. It was commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who also ruled Sicily, and its plan is highly unusual, consisting of an octagonal main block with eight towers, each of which is itself octagonal. Its exact purpose is unknown: it has no moat or drawbridge and lacks the usual features of a castle, so historians have suggested it served as a hunting lodge, a residence, a symbol of imperial power or even an astronomical observatory. The building mixes Romanesque, Gothic and classical elements. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996.
Before and after
- from 1236 to 1795Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- from 1238 to 1492Emirate of Granada
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
- from 1240 to 12421240 Izborsk and Pskov campaign
- 29 January 1240Construction of Castel del Monte
- from March 1241 to April 1242First Mongol invasion of Hungary
- 9 April 1241Battle of Legnica
- from 1243 to 1502Golden Horde
- 26 June 1243Battle of Köse Dağ
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 618 CE to 907 CETang dynasty
- 622 CEConstruction of Prophet's Mosque
- 637 CEConstruction of Potala Palace
- from 800 CE to 1258Islamic Golden Age
- 1070Construction of Windsor Castle
- 1386Construction of Heidelberg University
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.