Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte is the most famous medieval castle, which is full of secrets and various symbols. It is located in the southern side of Italy and means "castle on the mountain". This building dates back to the reign of Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, who built it in the 13th century.
Since time immemorial, the church of Santa Maria del Monte existed on the hill, which was destroyed without leaving a trace. It was here that the castle was built, which attracts many modern tourists with its unusual appearance.
Scientists have determined that the castle was built over a period of ten years. But, it still remains a mystery who was the main architect of this unusual grandiose structure, and the direct purpose of this building is also unknown. It is believed that Castel del Monte holds the secret of the exact sciences of the ancient people, including astronomy and mathematics. This lock presents the number eight, which is noticeable throughout. The entire building is built in the shape of an octagon, which accommodates two floors. There are exactly eight towers along the edges of the octagonal structure, which adhere to the same eight corners. There are exactly eight rooms on each floor, and the towers themselves have spiral staircases that spin counterclockwise, which is unusual for buildings of this period. This castle does not have rooms for a specific purpose, they are all interconnected by arched openings.
Castel del Monte includes a courtyard on which an octagon fountain is located, which is carved from marble. This fountain was directly involved in some Templar customs.
The castle's decoration is the decor, which also continues the theme of the number eight. Here you can count exactly the same number of leaves on the columns, on the key of the vault, and the local sunflowers contain eight petals. This number is not simple, because it acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth. Two lions have also been erected as a decoration, which are placed at the entrance on the columns.
If we take into account the fact that Emperor Frederick II was a fan of hunting falcons, and even devoted one of his written works to this topic, then we can assume that it was Castel del Monte that served as a hunting castle. Very important events also took place here, including the wedding of the ruler's daughter.
For quite a long time, Castel del Monte was in complete oblivion. In 1876, the state began to manage it, and it was then that the castle was restored and acquired a well-groomed appearance.
This landmark was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Nowadays, the castle of Castel del Monte, which bears a great resemblance to the royal crown, can be seen by everyone.
