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Castel del Monte, Andria.

  On top of a small hill overlooking the comune of Andria, in the Italian region Apulia, stands one of the strangest looking castle. This 13th century citadel is octagonal in shape, with each of the eight corners sporting an octagonal tower. Its geometric design was very unique at that time. The castle was built in 1240 by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, but nobody knows why. It was not built to defend anything, as it has neither a moat nor a drawbridge, although archaeological work suggest there might have been originally a curtain wall. Some believe that Castel del Monte was nothing more than a hunting lodge. When it was built, the castle was not as isolated as it appears today. The region was famously fertile with a plentiful supply of water and lush vegetation. There was also a monastery close by—the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte—from which the castle appears to take its name. There is only one document from Frederick II’s era which speaks of Castel del Monte’s constr...

Castel del Monte, Andria.

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