This architectural curiosity stands on a hilltop 20km south of Andria. Its geometric layout is quite unlike most Italian castles: it’s perfectly octagonal, and lacks defensive features such as a moat, drawbridge or arrow slits.
Its location is also a conundrum, since it does not seem to have been built for any strategic purpose — there are no important towns or crossroads near by. It was most likely built as a hunting lodge or folly by Frederick II, but some scholars claim the castle may be an architectural symbol of Frederick’s religious devotion; during the middle ages, the octagon was seen as a sacred shape, combining the circle (symbolising the divine or infinite) and the square (symbolising the human, or finite world).
Among its many alluring features, the Greek islands stand out as gems waiting to be discovered. From Santorini's iconic sunsets to the hidden treasures of Naxos and Crete's historical wonders, here is a curated list of Greek islands that should be on every traveler's bucket list.
