Exterior view
by LENTINI, Riccardo da, Photo
The Castello dell’Imperatore is a castle with crenellated walls and towers. It was built for Frederick II (1194-1250), Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily, on top of a previous fortification of which two towers remain. When Frederick II died building was stopped and the interior was never finished.
With its clear ground plan and symmetrical courtyard it can be considered as an early prototype of the later Florentine palaces.
The photo shows the entrance to the castle.
View the ground plan of the Castello dell’Imperatore, Prato.