Castel del Monte, Bari, Apulia - Italy

This beautifully constructed castle, which stands on a hill at an altitude of 540 metre-high (1770ft), near Bari in south-eastern Italy, is testament to the personality and talents of its inceptor, Frederick II. Known as the "stupor mundi" or "wonder of the world”, Frederick was said to speak nine languages and to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, especially in mathematics, science and astronomy. In January 1240, Frederick issued a decree ordering Richard of Montefulsco, governor of Capitanata, to prepare the necessary materials to construct a castle near the church of Santa Maria del Monte (since disappeared). It was built over the next decade, but since Frederick died in 1250, it is uncertain how much he used it - although it is known to have been the site of his daughter Violante's wedding in 1249.

• The castle is built as an octagon, with an octagonal bastion at each corner, an octagonal courtyard and 16 rooms spread over two floors.
• The upper rooms were reached by three spiral staircases but would also have been interconnected via a catwalk suspended across the courtyard.
• Another unusual feature was the castle's many bathrooms - common at that time in the Arab world, but unusual in the West.

Influences from other cultures can be seen in the lions protruding from the gateway, a nod to the Romanesque past, and the castle's tower corbels and vaulted arches, which recall the Gothic. Classical influences are evident in the friezes and cornices of the courtyard openings, while the remains of a floor mosaic are reminiscent of Muslim style.

Throughout the 18th century the castle was stripped of its marble, sculptures and furnishings, becoming a refuge for bandits and shepherds.

In 1878 it was bought by the State, which instigated restoration projects, until it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The number eight is a recurring theme in the structure of the Castel del Monte. Eight octagonal bastions are built against each of the eight sides of the castle's walls, while the central open-air courtyard is also eight sided. The main wall is 25m (82ft) high, and the bastions 26m (85ft), while the diameter of the castle is 56m (183.7ft).

The central courtyard is open to the elements, each wall punctured with the windows of the eight trapezoid-shaped rooms on the ground and first floors. Single arched opening provide access to the courtyard, with a single Gothic opening facing Andria, the city Frederick II held dear for its loyalty to him.

Castel del Monte was perhaps built as a watchtower, a hunting lodge or as a place for learned discussion. Its fate did not match its grand design; after Frederick's death it became a prison, with his three grandsons being held there from 1266. Thereafter it had a succession of owners, and in 1656 became a place of safety for nobles fleeing plague-hit Andria.

The imposing octagonal structure was built by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick 11 during the 13th century. With neither a drawbridge or moat, it may never have been intended as a defensive fortress. · The castle combines architectural and cultural elements from Northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity.

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