Castel del Monte: the mysterious castle of Frederick II
A medieval masterpiece of geometric precision, symbolism and the meeting of cultures
Enter the mystery of Castel del Monte and discover the extraordinary octagonal architecture commissioned by Frederick II, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Experience available throughout the year, on reservation and during the opening hours of the monument. Availability is subject to tickets with scheduled entry.
The route of the visit to Castel del Monte
- Departure from Altamura or independent arrival
- Meeting with the guide at the agreed point
- Walk towards the entrance of the castle
- Introduction to the landscape of the Alta Murgia
- The story of the life and court of Frederick II
- Observation of the octagonal shape of the building
- Analysis of the eight perimeter towers
- Observation of the monumental portal
- Entrance to the castle
- Visit to the central octagonal courtyard
- Route through the rooms of the lower floor
- Route through the rooms of the upper floor, if accessible
- The story of the materials used in the construction
- In-depth focus on the play of light and the geometric proportions
- Presentation of the main symbolic interpretations
- The story of the classical, Islamic and Gothic elements
- Panoramic view over the surrounding territory
- Free time in the outdoor area
- Conclusion of the excursion
What the excursion may include
- Licensed tourist guide service
- Guided tour inside and outside
- Historical introduction to Frederick II
- In-depth focus on the octagonal architecture
- Explanation of the symbolism of the castle
- Assistance during entry
- Free time in the area of the monument
- The chance to request transport from Altamura
- The chance to add a visit to a masseria
- The chance to add a tasting of Murgia products
- The chance to request the visit in a foreign language
Useful information
- Duration of the guided tour: about 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Recommended overall duration with travel: half a day
- Excursion price: on request
- The rate varies depending on the number of participants
- The entrance ticket to the castle is not included, unless otherwise stated
- The ticket price must be checked at the time of booking
- Entry can be organised by time slots
- Advance booking is strongly recommended
- Transport from Altamura is not included, unless indicated in the quote
- It is possible to reach the site with your own vehicle
- It is possible to request a car, minivan or authorised bus
- Transport costs are calculated separately
- Any shuttle or parking must be checked
- The route from the car park to the entrance may require a walk
- Comfortable shoes are recommended
- Some rooms can be reached via stairs
- Accessibility must be checked based on the participants' needs
- Access to some areas may be limited for reasons of preservation or maintenance
- The visit may be subject to change in the event of adverse weather conditions
- Tastings or meals are not automatically included
- Foreign languages are available on request
- The payment and cancellation conditions are communicated in the quote
