The most emblematic example is certainly Castel del Monte in Andria. Universally known for its octagonal shape, it has become a symbol of the region with its grandeur, so much so that its low relief is carved into Italy's 2-cent coins.
Let us therefore discover together which Swabian castles in Apulia are noteworthy.
Castel del Monte, a masterpiece of medieval architecture
A true symbol of Frederick II's passion for mixing cultures, Castel del Monte, located in the municipality of Andria, is a true masterpiece of medieval architectural art that combines in itself cultural elements from northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity. Precisely because of its beauty, the castle has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996.
The fortress is also particularly striking because of its geometric rigor. In fact, in addition to the octagonal plan, the number eight recurs almost maniacally throughout the structure. This is one of the unusual peculiarities that sanctions the castle's connection with symbolism and mysteries that have fascinated visitors and scholars from all over the world for centuries, leaving the castle under a veil of mystery.
The entrance portal is very impressive: looking through it from bottom to top, one notices an Arabic-style arch, a Greco-Roman tympanum and Gothic mullioned windows with two lights. Inside there are sixteen trapezoidal-shaped rooms, eight on each floor, characterized by the keystones of the crosses decorated with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and phytomorphic elements.
Some of the castle towers house cisterns for collecting rainwater. In others, however, are located bathrooms even equipped with a latrine and washbasin, testifying to Frederick II's dedication, not usual at the time, to hygiene and cleanliness.
Among the features that fuel the aura of mystery that reminds us of Castel del Monte is then the courtyard, also octagonal in shape, and surrounded by a series of walls containing blind arcades. The contrasts that the high clear walls create with the color of the sky are ideal for observing the vault of heaven at night, so as to indulge one of Frederick II's greatest passions.
The castle of trani and its ghosts
Among the Castles of Apulia shrouded in mystery is the Castle of Trani built close to the sea that laps the city's shores.
The ghost of Trani Castle is a woman whose identity is still unclear. According to legend, her name is Armida: the ill-fated noblewoman locked up in the castle's dungeon at the behest of her husband after the discovery of adultery. Blinded by jealousy, the man stabbed the lady's lover and then locked her up in a cell in the building's dungeon, in which the young woman died. From that time on, her spirit would roam the castle.
Supernatural phenomena aside , Trani Castle was built on the model of the Crusader castles of the Holy Land with a quadrangular plan, reinforced at the apexes by four square towers of equal height. It is famous for hosting the wedding ceremony of Manfred, son of Frederick II of Swabia with Princess Helena of Epirus. It was revisited in later centuries beginning in the 16th century when, with the advent of firearms, the necessary modifications were made to support the new defensive techniques, and it was again remodeled in the 1800s to adapt it to its prison function.
The castle of Barletta and the famous challenge
Majestic and impregnable , Barletta Castle was built by the Normans and has gone through several changes over the centuries. It was conceived as a fortress - prison against enemies, but with the arrival of Frederick II of Swabia, the castle was used as a private residence. The enlightened ruler wanted to revisit the building by accentuating the architectural and decorative aspects according to the geometric taste that has always distinguished it.
A re-enactment of a distant past that has its origins in the Middle Ages in Barletta traces the dramatic moments of the Disfida: a clash between thirteen Italian kn ights and thirteen French knights. The bloody confrontation ended in victory for the Italians.
From that moment Barletta became the City of the Challenge and today, twice a year in remembrance of those tumultuous moments, an evocative event is held in February and September in which the ancient and seafaring town of Barletta, with the Castle, Porta Marina, Piazza della Prefettura and the streets of the center, becomes a stage on which the evocative spectacle of the Challenge in all its moments is re-enacted.
Your vacation among the castles of Puglia
The castles of Puglia, witnesses and symbols of power and ingenuity are among the points of interest to touch on during your vacation.
To do so by combining the beauty of discovery and the convenience of a strategic foothold, it may be useful for you to book a vacation home between Trani, Barletta and Andria in the area of imperial Apulia well in advance. Discover the accommodation that's right for you among the many at Barbarhouse, so you can experience your next trip in total relaxation.
