Water and fire in Castel del Monte: elements necessary for daily life

Castel del Monte was equipped with amenities to make the stay comfortable: water conduits, baths with washbasins and latrines, ventilation systems, and fireplaces. Comforts that attested to the, at least partial, residential nature of the manor. For Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, castles were not only fortifications necessary to strategically control and defend the territory but also "insignias of power" and places of residence.

Monumental fireplaces, flanked by niches in coral breccia, provided heating in five rooms, two on the ground floor and three on the upper floor. The fireplaces, before their stripping, were equipped with conical hoods and stood out for their elegance. On their sides, two single-lancet windows ensured the right ventilation and contributed to internal lighting.