The Murge in the countryside of Andria

Inside the Alta Murgia National Park (home to the last example of Mediterranean steppe in Italy), amid the greenery, you can find dry-stone buildings that served as shelter for animals during transhumance. Sturdy and majestic, some of these masserie (farmhouses) were fortified like true castles and have been vital centers of the local agricultural economy since the 15th century.

The jewel of the Park is Castel Del Monte, the mysterious octagonal castle attributed to the "stupor mundi" (wonder of the world) Frederick II. There are various hypotheses about the function of this building, ranging from a hunting residence to a temple of knowledge or a hammam.