Castel Del Monte

The Castel del Monte is a castle of octagons. It is

visible from some distance as you approach it, as it is perched at the very top of a hill. Parking can be found downhill from the entrance that leads up the hill, in a gravel lot. There are buses that run to the site, but we were unclear as to whether these were free, or possibly for tour groups, so we walked. It is not a difficult walk, and leads gently up the slope through an open forest canopy. At the top we approached the castle on the dry and windswept hilltop which was characteristic of southern Italy. The hue of the stone almost blending into it's surrounding. The castle is an octagon, with 8 octagonal towers, and a paved octagonal courtyard. It stands at only 2 stories, but each level has very high ceilings, lending the structure an imposing height. It was build during the 1200's by Frederick II and has since been stripped of its decorations, even the marble interiors are gone. what is left is the bare stone structure. However, the original beauty of the structure can still be inferred from the beautiful stairwells, windows, and other architectural details inside the rooms.