Castel del Monte
Andria, Italy
Emperor Frederick II’s mysterious octagonal castle on a hilltop in the Murgia, a UNESCO site. Park at the foot of the hill and take the shuttle or walk up.
Emperor Frederick II had the castle built in the 1240s on a hilltop in the Murgia. Its plan is strictly octagonal: eight octagonal corner towers surround an octagonal courtyard, and each of the two floors has eight rooms. It was probably never finished; later it served as a hunting lodge under Manfred and as a state prison under Charles I of Anjou. The Italian state bought the building in 1876, and restoration began in 1928. Castel del Monte has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and appears on the Italian 1-cent coin.
Allow about an hour for the rooms, the courtyard and a walk around the outside. By car, take the SS170 from Andria. The official pay car park lies in the woods below the summit; from there a shuttle bus runs up, or you can walk. In the summer season a public bus also runs from Andria railway station.
- Nearest town
- Andria, Italy
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 41.0848, 16.2708
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- L"alto villaggioMotorhome stopover1 km from Castel del MonteMotorhomes
- Area Camper Via ScarlattiMotorhome stopover18 km from Castel del Monte · 20 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Sosta camper via MinghettiMotorhome stopover19 km from Castel del Monte · 10 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Area Sosta Camper - Tenuta PupettaMotorhome stopover22 km from Castel del MonteMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Area Camper Olimpiadi Centro SportivoMotorhome stopover25 km from Castel del MonteMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camper Park TraniMotorhome stopover25 km from Castel del Monte · 30 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityToiletsWi-Fi
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Castel del Monte?
Castel del Monte is in Andria, Italy, at GPS 41.0848, 16.2708. It is about 30 km from Molfetta.
Can you camp near Castel del Monte?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is L"alto villaggio, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 10 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Castel del Monte?
Castel del Monte is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Castles and ravines of the Alta Murgia and Trulli, tufa and two seas – by motorhome from the Gargano through Puglia to the cape of Leuca.
What is there to see near Castel del Monte?
Places worth a stop nearby: Trani Cathedral (25 km), Pulo di Altamura (31 km), Gravina aqueduct bridge (32 km) and Sassi di Matera (55 km).
When is the best time to visit Castel del Monte?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)