The artistic vision of Frederick II of Swabia
Castel del Monte stands out like a white gem in the lush landscape of the Andria hinterland, a symbol of Frederick II's artistic taste and his imperial vision. Ready to welcome all the visitors in its halls to accompany them in a journey through history.
Notices(7)
- SPECIAL EVENING OPENING – JUNE 21
Please note that on Saturday, June 21, Castel del Monte will be open from 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM and again from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, the event "Sotto il cielo di Federico II" will take place in collaboration with the Bari Planetarium.
- SPECIAL EVENING OPENING – AUGUST 10 AND 11
Please note that on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 August, Castel del Monte will be open from 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM and again from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, the event "Sotto il cielo di Federico II" will take place in collaboration with the Bari Planetarium.
- disabled access
Visitors with disabilities can access the mezzanine floor of the castle via a lifting platform. The maximum weight supported is 210 kg.
- Pet Friendly
Castel del Monte is pet-friendly: the visit can be done with cats and (small) dogs in a pet carrier. Pet carriers can be purchased directly on site
- Respect of the chosen entry time
We remind visitors that it is mandatory to show up at the site’s entrance exactly at the time chosen during the purchase.
- free admission
The first Sunday of each month access to all institutes and places of culture is free, including, in the absence of a separate exhibition itinerary or of a separate ticket, the spaces in which exhibitions or temporary exhibitions are held. Admission will also be free on the following days: 25th April; 2nd June; 4th November.
- groups
Groups of maximum 30 people allowed per visit.
Services(6)
- Audioguide
- Bookshop
- Disabled access
- Guided Tours
- Info Point
- Pets allowed with carrier
Reductions(6)
For REDUCED and FREE tickets, proof of the right to use these tickets will have to be shown. Where the visitor fails to produce such documentation at the ticket office, a FULL-PRICE ticket will have to be purchased.
Free
14types- •European Union tourist guides in the exercise of their professional activity, presenting a valid licence issued by the competent authority
- •Tour interpreters from the European Union working alongside the guide, upon presentation of a valid licence issued by the competent authority
- •To the staff of the Ministry of Culture
- •Members of I.C.O.M. (International Council of Museums)
- •Visitors under the age of eighteen. Under-twelves must be accompanied by an adult
- •To public and private school groups of the European Union alongside their teachers, subjected to booking and in the quota established by the head of the institution or cultural site.
- •Lecturers and students on degree courses, specialist degree courses or post-graduate specialisation and PhD courses in the following faculties: architecture, conservation of cultural heritage, education sciences or literature and philosophy with an archaeological or historical-artistic focus. The same benefits are due to teachers and students of corresponding universities or courses, present in the European Union States.
- •Teachers and students enrolled in Fine Arts Academies or corresponding institutes of the European Union, by showing their enrolment certificate for the current academic year
- •Teaching staff -permanent school or with a fixed-term contract- of the Italian school, upon presentation of a suitable certificate issued by the educational institutions. The certificate is annual and valid for the academic year in progress.
- •Disabled persons and one family member or companion who can show their membership to health and care services.
- •To the operators of voluntary associations who carry out, on the basis of existing agreements with the Ministry, activities to promote knowledge of cultural heritage.
- •Italian and foreign scholars for study or research purposes certified by Italian or foreign school or university institutions, academies, research and culture institutes as well as by the Ministry, for particular and justified needs, the Directors can allow individual subjects who request it free admission for specific periods.
- •For journalists in good standing with the payment of membership fees, by showing a suitable document proving the professional activity
- •Free entry to state cultural sites is permitted to teachers and students of AFAM (Higher Education in Art and Music) schools, upon presentation of the appropriate forms.
Reduced
2types- •EU citizens aged between 18 and 25 (the age limit is considered exceeded from the day following the completion of the 25th year of age).
- •To citizens of countries outside the European Union, on condition of reciprocity.
Full Cumulative
1Type- •Allows FULL PRICE entrance to Castel del Monte (Andria) and to Trani Swabian Castle
Reduced Cumulative
1Type- •Allows REDUCED entrance to Castel del Monte (Andria) and to Trani Swabian Castle
Puglia Museums Card
1Type- •The subscription is NAME-SPECIFIC. It allows unlimited admissions for 6 months in all the museums of the Regional Directorate of Museums of Puglia. The Taranto National Archaeological Museum (MArTA) is NOT included.
Museum Card
1Type- •The subscription is NAME-SPECIFIC. It allows unlimited entry for 6 months in ONE of the museums of the Regional Directorate of Museums of Puglia. Taranto National Archaeological Museum (MArTA) is NOT included.
Description
An enlightened ruler
Located on the Western Murge upland, the Castle is the outcome of a profitable cultural syncretism where classical, Gothic and Arab elements come together to create the flagship of Apulia's architectural and artistic heritage. Unlike the Syracuse Maniace Castle whose construction was entrusted to Riccardo Lentini, according to some sources, the architect of Castel del Monte was Frederick II himself: the sovereign was so clear in his mind about what the project should look like that he chose not to call on the court architect.
Man with a complex personality and multiple interests, the humanistic spirit of Frederick II is still perceptible today in the series of works - architectural and literary - left in ininheritance.This man of great acumen, whose feats of war, politics and architecture earned him the title of Stupor Mundi, had in mind a building sui generis from the outset, opting for a form and practical use different from all the other castles in the Swabian network.
Symbol of imperial power
Although displaced from the city centre, the position and altitude of the castle made it a focal point for communication among Frederick's castles. Although it is called a castle, it does not have the same features as a medieval castle: the absence of a moat, or of machicolations and bridges excludes its use for warfare, while the architectural elements, the balance of forms and styles lead to a more symbolic interpretation of space. As it was unlikely to be used as a residence for the court as a whole due to its small size, more plausible hypotheses see it as a place of representation or a meeting point for the emperor's chosen few, as well as an architectural, cultural and administrative symbol of imperial power.
Recent history
The Castle was acquired by the Italian State in 1876 and underwent a series of restorations: first in 1879 to waterproof and consolidate the structures, then in 1928 to clear away the rubble that was piled almost two metres high against the outer walls. In 1996, UNESCO included it in its World Heritage List for its being testimony of the humanism of its founder, while in more recent times it has turned up as a location in numerous films.
A place of charm and symbolism
Castel del Monte leaves a profound impression on its visitors. The octagonal layout and strategic position for controlling the territory (the castle is located on a hill 540 metres above sea level) also determine the importance given during the Middle Ages to the relationship with the Sun, also underlined by the position of the two lions at the entrance, facing right and left respectively to follow the direction in which the sun rises during the two solstices. The inherent symbolism of the structure, centred on the number eight (symbol of cosmic balance) and the perfection of forms, has led numerous scholars to see the Castle as the physical representation and justification of Imperial Power.
Forecast
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