| Registration Classification | cultural heritage |
| Registration Criteria | (1), (2), (3) |
| Year of registration | 1996 |
Castel del Monte is a castle located on the outskirts of the province of Puglia in southern Italy, built in the 13th century by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. The castle incorporates Islamic, Scandinavian Gothic, and other architectural techniques, and has a geometric structure that forms an octagon when viewed from above.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Castel del Monte is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Castel del Monte!
What is Castel del Monte?
Castel del Monte, located on the outskirts of Andria in the province of Puglia, was built in 1240 by Frederick II, a man who loved learning and the arts. The castle was octagonal in shape, with astronomy and mathematics, and shows the deep interest in mathematics of Frederick II, who was a highly cultured man.
His court brought together various scholars from the Mediterranean and combined European and Islamic architectural styles.The castle is unique for its time in that it is an octagonal structure with octagonal towers at each corner. In fact, it was built using the golden ratio, which anticipated the Renaissance.
The castle, built in a combination of various architectural styles, including Islamic and Scandinavian, is a masterpiece of medieval architecture that reflects the progressive ideas of King Friedrich II.
For what reason is Castel del Monte on the World Heritage List?
Castel del Monte was recognized for
Registration Criteria (i)
The castle is unique in that it incorporates Scandinavian, Islamic, and other architectural styles and reflects the radical ideas of King Friedrich II.
Registration Criterion (ii)
Friedrich II had an international outlook, bringing Greek, Arab, Italian, and Jewish scholars to his court, and that this can be seen in the castle.
Registration Criteria (iii)
That Castel del Monte was a combination of knowledge and ideas from Mediterranean civilization.
World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments
Friedrich II was a “born too soon” type of emperor, known for his love of art and learning, incorporating Oriental knowledge more than 200 years before the Renaissance began. In fact, Castel del Monte is a castle that is not very Italianate, but this is due to the incorporation of Islamic and Gothic architectural elements.
Castel del Monte appears to be a military fortress, but in fact it was built more as a villa than a fortress.In other words, it was a “hobby building” of an advanced emperor. It is believed that this is why he was able to create such a particular kind of architecture. Friedrich II must have been a man with a playful spirit.
*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage Site enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.
