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Castel del Monte

Castles & palaces ·Andria ·Open now
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#9Castles & palaces in ItalyMost reviewed in AndriaTravelers' Choice 2025
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About

Castel del Monte is a 13th-century hilltop castle commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, 17 km from Andria in Puglia.

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Castel del Monte

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Why go

  • An octagonal castle with eight octagonal corner towers.
  • A UNESCO World Heritage site blending northern European, Islamic and classical architecture.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 17:45Show all
Monday09:00 – 17:45
Tuesday09:00 – 17:45
Wednesday09:00 – 17:45
Thursday09:00 – 17:45
Friday09:00 – 17:45
Saturday09:00 – 17:45
Sunday09:00 – 17:45

Don't miss

  • Falconiere Tower carvingsTwo anthropomorphic shelves, carved supports and a floor mosaic fragment remain in this tower.Falconiere Tower
  • Window facing AndriaThe hall facing Andria has a three-light window; other upper-floor rooms have two-light windows.Upper floor, hall facing Andria
  • Old door mechanismThe mechanism for the old main-door shutter remains visible inside the supporting wall.Inside the wall beside the main entrance

Know before you go

  • Open daily from 09:00 to 17:45.

What's inside

  • Sixteen trapezoidal rooms occupy two floors and have decorated cross vaults.
  • Five towers contain rooms, including baths and toilets; the other three contain spiral staircases.
  • Most original decoration has disappeared, but traces of marble ornament remain behind the capitals.

Tips for your visit

  • From the entrance room, continue into the room on the right and then to the courtyard; there is no direct choice of routes from that first room.
  • Expect an uneven circulation pattern: two rooms each have only one entrance.

Interesting facts5

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  1. 1463

    A 1463 decree used the shorter name Castel del Monte; the castle was first called Castello di Santa Maria del Monte.

    Castel del Monte - Wikipedia

  2. During World War II, the US 15th Army Air Force operated a secret navigation-aid station at the castle.

    Castel del Monte, Apulia - Wikipedia

  3. The castle was a filming location for Tale of Tales.

    Castel del Monte, Apulia - Wikipedia

  4. The castle’s image appears on the reverse of the Italian one-cent coin.

    Castel del Monte - Wikipedia

  5. A bacterial compound found in soil around the castle led to the development of doxorubicin, a cancer drug.

    Castel del Monte, Apulia - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The site had an earlier fortress, but no structural remains of it survive. Under Charles I of Anjou, Castel del Monte became a state prison; Manfred’s sons were imprisoned here after 1266. Some marble columns and window frames were later reused at the Bourbon palace in Caserta.

  1. 1240Frederick II ordered materials prepared for a castle near Santa Maria del Monte.
  2. 1246Violante, daughter of Frederick II and Bianca Lancia, married Riccardo Sanseverino, Count of Caserta, here.
  3. 1528French forces bombarded and devastated the castle.
  4. 17th c.The castle was neglected and stripped of decoration, then used as a prison and refuge.
  5. 1876The Italian state acquired the castle.
Show all
  1. 1928A restoration campaign removed debris and rebuilt parts of the structure.
  2. 1936The castle became a national monument of Italy.
  3. 1975–1981Further restoration work took place.

Photo spots

  • Paired entrance stairwaysFrame the two symmetrical stairways leading to the main portal; the steps were reconstructed in 1928.Approach to the main entrance

Sources: Castel del Monte, Apulia - Wikipedia · Castel del Monte - Direzione regionale Musei Pu… · Castel del Monte - Wikipedia · Castel del Monte - Wikipedia · Castel del Monte - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026

Where
Strada Statale 170, Andria

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Where is Castel del Monte?

It stands in the hamlet of the same name, about 70 km west of Bari.

How can I contact Castel del Monte?

Call +39 327 980 5551.

Was Castel del Monte completed?

It may still have been unfinished when Frederick II died in 1250.

Is Castel del Monte connected with the Knights Templar?

No. The castle is not connected with the Knights Templar, despite a frequently repeated association.

What lies beneath Castel del Monte’s courtyard?

A large rainwater cistern lies beneath the courtyard; it is the only cistern at the castle still functioning.

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