Castel Del Monte

Book excerpt: "In the south of Italy stands one of the most beautiful and fascinating castles of the Middle Ages, commissioned by the brilliant Emperor Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. Castel del Monte is unique in the history of art and architecture, and the mystery surrounding its function and meaning has inspired the most varied theories, most of which are based on speculation rather than solid analysis." "Heinz Gotze presents an in-depth study of this enigmatic structure and explores its singularity in the history of art and architecture. This illustrated book presents the reader with insights into the bastion's structure while exploring the cultural influences common to the entire Mediterranean region, including that of medieval Arabic geometry, and the effect these factors had on the conception and construction of Castel del Monte."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved