49.1

This photo has been taken from the hill of Castel del Monte ("Crown of Apulia", as named), looking toward the hills around, a few minutes before the sun falls down. Please look at the tree on left: it appears to be burning. The trees in photo are the ones which surround the castle of Frederick II of Swabia. This castle was built around 1250 by Frederick II of Swabia. It has an octagonal plant with eight towers, also with octagonal shape, placed at the eight corners of external perimeter and an internal octagonal courtyard. The number "eight" is its peculiar character, the same eight which when orizontally lies is the mathematical symbol of "infinity". It dominates the Apulia from top of a hill and for this reason it has been named "Crown of Apulia". None knows what was its destination: someone says a castel for hunting, other an astronomical observatory. Certainly now it is the “pearl” of Apulia, well placed on its head, and with its "magical" shape shows to all mankind the power of the emperor Frederick II. This great masterpiece of medieval architecture from 1996 has been inserted in the list of UNESCO monuments.