Castel del Monte: Italy's Unique Octagonal Castle

August 25, 2025, 4:22 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Italy is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites worldwide. One of them is Castel del Monte in the south of the country.

Castel del Monte, dating back to the 13th century and located about 60 kilometers from Bari in southern Italy, is octagonal in shape and sits atop a hill. Built by order of the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II, the castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and is one of the outstanding landmarks of the Apulia region. Since 2001, it has adorned the reverse side of the Italian 1-cent coin.

Why is Castel del Monte octagonal?

Castel del Monte is built as an octagon—an architecturally unique World Heritage Site made of limestone. The octagonal castle is 25 meters high, with the eight towers rising about one meter above. The castle is said to have been one of Frederick II’s favorite residences.

The question of why it was built as an octagon is still debated among scholars. Some say it symbolizes the power of the Hohenstaufen emperor in the form of the equally octagonal imperial crown, while others see it as Frederick’s architectural response to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Inside Castel del Monte, an idiosyncratic system of corridors, rooms, and spiral staircases stands out. To this day, the systematic arrangement remains unclear.

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Information for Visitors

According to the official website, Castel del Monte is open to visitors from April 1 to September 30 from 10:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and from October to March from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is 5 euros, reduced to 2.50 euros. Children and teenagers up to 18 years old, those over 65, and people with disabilities have free access.

Traveling by car is straightforward. Castel del Monte is roughly halfway between Gargano and Bari. Alternatively, take the train to Andria and then bus line 6 from the station to the castle.

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Text contribution: Jasch Zacharias

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.