2. Who? Frederick II was a scholar and an architect. He knew Arabic as well as Latin, and he was influenced by all he'd seen on a crusade into the Arabic world. He founded the University of Naples. He was also a friend to the great mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci. King Frederick died before the castle was even finished. (1194-1250)

3. The Castle Del Monte was built in 1240 A.D.

4. Just north of the heel in Italy's boot sits the Castle Del Monte. It is situated on a small hill close to the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte. It lies in the commune of Andria, occupying the site of an earlier fortress of which no structural remains exist.

5. Apulia, Italy Puglia, as it is called in English, is Italy's boot heel, its southeastern most region. The entrance to and from the East, it has been conquered by legions of foreign rulers, most of whom were cautious to live elsewhere. The main exception was Frederick II (1194-1250), the last Emperor of the Hohenstaufen line. An open-minded man, he built many castles which still grace the region.

6. It was used primarily as a hunting lodge by Frederick until his death in 1250. It was later turned into a prison, used as a refuge during a plague, and finally fell into disrepair.