Unesco World Heritage Site.
The definitive architectural restoration of Castel del Monte, the Romanesque-styled XIII century octagonal castle commissioned by Frederick the Second of Svevia (Hohenstaufen), located less than 20 kilometres from our vineyards, dates back to the second half of 1950’s thanks to Bruno Malajoli’s extraordinary action.
All of the small agricultural businessmen of Neapolitan origins like us, that share a common origin from Apulia, are deeply fond of Frederick the Second’s story (1194-1250) for many different reasons. Born from the marriage of convenience between Henry VI, Emperor of the Holy Roma Empire) king of Sicily and son of Frederick I, known as Barbarossa, and Constance of Sicily, daughter of Roger II, known as the Norman. His parents died when he was only 4 years old, but he was crowned king of Sicily just before the death of his mother, leaving his education in the hands of Pope Innocent III. To this purpose The Pope chose Gualtieri of Pagliara, bishop of Troy and a Muslim imam whose name is unknown. Eventually he would be crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
He started wielding political power when he was only 15, and soon he distinguished himself for his ability to communicate, understand, and listen as well as for knowingly accomplishing a duty of vital importance for a sovereign during this time: to be a great conqueror and patron of the arts and letters.
Among his achievements, we would like to highlight: The recovery of the legendary Holy Grail from the Holy Land. It is thought that one of the castle courtyards held an octagonal basin, made out from a single block of marble, that, according to an eighteen-century description, represented the Holy Grail and that, always according to the same legend, it remained within this castle walls for some time.
A recent re-interpretation of all the elements, both based on history and legend, suggests that Castel del Monte could be the monument intended to guard the Holy Grail, as it is located exactly midway between Alexandria of Egypt and the Cathedral of Chartres.
The castle is built on an octagonal perimeter and has eight octagonal towers, one in every angle. The towers were designed following extensive astronomical knowledge, built in such a way as to allow the summer solstice sunrays to cross outer and inner windows and shine on the well-known castle courtyard fresco.
the magnificent Federician masterpiece is completed by a system intended to collect rainwater; thermal studies; a medieval internal communication system; efficient safety and hygiene devices; orange-red marbles from Persia -obtained only thanks to rare diplomatic skills; an elegant and minimal Romanesque style; an intelligently designed structure as well as a dominant location (about 600 m from sea level).
This famous octagonal building also served as a summer hunting preserve and, mainly as a way to display architectural and esoteric know-how, all intended to elicit fear and awe in both subjects and enemies.
Frederick, a great enlightened sovereign from the Middle Age, was called stupor mundi in his time because of his insatiable curiosity towards all types of science; from mathematics to astrology, from literature to poetry and religion.
Frederick was the founder of the University of Naples, the second oldest university in Italy. The Swabian king was in fact strongly motivated to create a managerial class who would be able to lead a State under the rule of law, so as to ensure that his reign could live and flourish in peace. This effort was paid for with his life. He was defeated by the Church ‘s army, then jealous representative of the spiritual power, hostile to temporal power.
He was also the author of the first scientific treaty on hunting, “de arte venandi cum avibus”, based on the study and the experience in a time in which such treaties could only be based on myth or simply not written.
