Exterior view

Monumental secular architecture in Romanesque Italy derived from the same sources as those of religious architecture. Fifth- and eighth-century palaces in Ravenna provided the examples for urban palaces. However, the urban palaces with unprotected arcades were unappropriate for rural residences of emperors, kings or their vassals. Feudal strongholds tended to be built of multiple rings of fortification. Such fortresses generally conformed more to the topography in their layout than to the laws of symmetry. Frederick II was the only castle-builder at the time to develop a series of symmetrical, centrally planned castles, an example of them being Castel del Monte in Puglia, begun c. 1233.

View the ground plan of Castel del Monte, Andria.