Castel del Monte it still represents a place surrounded by an aura of charm, mystery and magic. It presents itself in all its age. It is an ancient building that has its roots in the thirteenth century and was built at the behest of Emperor Frederick II.
Its importance is well known to locals and many tourists, so much so that the Castel del Monte with its olive arches constitutes one of the major points of interest of the place. If you feel like visiting it, you can find it in Puglia, in the hamlet of the municipality of Andria. It stands in all its grandeur on a hill in the western Murgia chain.
The official birth of the building dates back to January 29, 1240. It is on this date that Frederick II ordered its construction.
Nevertheless, there are many scholars who do not agree with this idea, nor do they agree with the attribution to the name of a single architect. According to some, not only is the date uncertain, but also who was the creator. In fact, it is still not known today whether Riccardo da Lentini or himself designed the building Frederick II.
Castel del Monte and its history
According to an ancient legend, the origin of the building is attested to an inscription reported in an ancient temple. Here, as tradition dictates, there was a statue where the following sentence was reported: "My head is made of bronze but when the sun rises in May it will be gold".
Then, one day, a Saracen managed to solve the mystery and on the first day of the month of May, at sunrise, he began to dig in the exact spot where the shadow of the statue fell. It went up to a very rich treasure, with which the castle was built.
In the structures of Castel del Monte the three footprints left by the emperor himself can still be found Frederick II. What distinguishes the castle from the many others of which our national heritage is full, we remember it, the richest in the world, is the typical labyrinth.
The geometric design is perfect and there is a rather difficult labyrinth to unravel inside. The first footprint appears in the sixth room where a lily with 3 leaves and one stem.
The structure of the castle
The reference to the sum of the eight sides on which the perimeter walls rest and the 48 small sides of the towers. The total is 56, just like the years of the Emperor's life.
If you take a sharp blade and cut the portal in two, another magical ingredient U will appear on the left side.huge "F", That of Frederick II of Swabia. An emperor to this day who is greatly affected by his mysterious connotation.
Another noteworthy element is the entrance to the castle, characterized by a portal with 2 columns and 2 lions. The first with his gaze turned towards the sunrise at winter solstice. The second, on the other hand, has the gaze in the direction of the sunrise in the summer solstice. All those who leave the exit have the impression that they can never turn their backs on the castle.
