As luxury fashion houses ramp up the return of the destination runway show, Gucci announced earlier this week that its next fashion presentation will take place at the Castel del Monte in the Apulia region of Italy on May 16.
Chosen by creative director Alessandro Michele for the setting’s rich history and engrained Italian heritage, Gucci’s upcoming men’s and women’s show marks the house’s support for an enhancement project of the castle, improving the visitor experience and preserving its innate historic value.
Protected as a World Heritage Site since 1996, the Castel del Monte is managed by the Ministry of Culture- Regional Directorate of Puglia Museums. Known for its geometric design and recognizable octagonal shape, the historic landmark was created by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, who commissioned its construction in approximately 1240. Also the King of Sicily, Germany, Italy, and Jerusalem, the monarch was considered a formidable patron of the arts and sciences.
Built with a harmonious fusion of Northern European characteristics, Islamic elements, and traits from classical antiquity, Castel del Monte perfectly embodies the various cultures, creeds, and civilizations of the Mediterranean.
According to the UNESCO, the Germanic Emperor “brought scholars together in his court from throughout the Mediterranean, combining Eastern and Western traditions. The castle’s unique design, an octagonal plan with octagonal towers at each angle, represents a search for perfection.”
Built on a rocky bank in Andria, the structure sits 540 meters above sea level where it’s hit with sunlight throughout the day (another great feature for the fashion show setting).
Having previously staged shows at Westminster Abbey’s cloisters in London in 2016, the Palatina Gallery in Florence in 2018 and Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Stars in 2021, the esteemed Italian fashion house is continuing to preserve, sustain and promote artistic heritage.
