Octagonal castle architecture

I was visiting my sister in Puglia this weekend, a region in southern Italy most famous for its delicious food, great hospitality and the very simple life. Puglia will always have such a special place in my heart! I always come back wishing I could have stayed more and...a few kilos heavier (think: the best focaccia, the best pasta, the best pizza, the best tarallis).

This time we went to visit a few of the castles of the emperor Federico II. Castel del Monte, built in 1240, is featured on the Italian version of the 1 cent Euro coin. It sits on top of a hill, surrounded by vinyards and olive groves as far as the eyes can see. It is a very unique piece of architecture because of its geometric design. The fortress is an octagonal prism with an octagonal tower at each corner, which is very unusual in castle design.

Here is the best tip EVER for you:
If you happen to be in Italy on the first Sunday of the month, most museums (including castles) are FREE in any city or town! We spent the entire day visiting beautiful, ancient castles and it was all for free 😊