Castello Sforzesco - The Milan's Sforza Castle

: Castello Sforzesco from via Dante

The imposing town castle is located in the extension from the Milan’s cathedral - Via Dante - Largo Cairoli - Piazza Castello.

Milan's castle was designed by Galeazzo II Visconti in 14th Century during the Renaissance period and it was built as a defensive castle.
Throughout its history, the castle was destroyed and built up again modified. The castle houses the Museums of the Castello with rarities such as the last masterpiece of Michelangelo, the unfinished Pietà Rondanini and the frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante.

Particularly impressive is the tower with the entrance Torre del Filarete, named after the Florentine architect and sculptor Antonio Averlino (called Filarete).

: Torre del Filarete

: Defending castle Castello Sforzesco

Leonardo da Vinci at the Court of Milan

Leonardo da Vinci worked from 1482 - 1499 and from 1506 -1513 at Milan's Castello Sforzesco under the Duke Ludovico Maria, nicknamed Ludovico il Moro and took care of the cultural life and the arts in the mansion.

During this time, Leonardo also worked on the development and expansion of the system of canals - Navigli - and the construction of locks as well as the study of man.

On the Footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan - Tours with a visit to the Last Supper

Museums of the Castello Sforzesco Castle and Sempione Park

: Painting by Leonardo da Vinci - Sala delle Asse

Sala delle Asse - decorated by Leoanrdo da Vinci

Ludovico il Moro was married to Beatrice d'Este and after her early death, Ludovico il Moro commissioned Leonardo with the decoration of the private bedroom "Sala delle Asse" in the ground floor of the Torre Falconiera (Museum of Ancient Art in the ground floor of the Corte Ducale).

The ceiling fresco was painted by Leonardo da Vinci 1498 with deciduous trees in which the branches are connected to each other and result in an endless braid.

Opening times of the museums

daily except Monday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The museums of the Castello Sforzesco are closed on the following holidays:
25th December, 1 January, 1 May Easter Monday

Prices:

Ticket € 3.00
Reduced ticket € 1.50

: Castello Sforzesco Museum of Ancient Art

Museums of Castello Sforzesco

The magnificent rooms of the Castello Sforzesco are now used as art museums.

With the invasion of Napoleon in Milan the Sforza Castle was heavily damaged, the troops of Napoleon used the frescoed halls as sleeping rooms and the interior courtyards as stables.

Today the impressive halls of the Sforza Castle house art museums:

The ground floor of the Ducal Courtyard: Museum of Ancient Art, with the last masterpiece of Michelangelo, the unfinished marble statue “Pieta Rondanini” ( Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1564).
First floor of the Ducal Courtyard: Museum of antique furniture and art collections, with a portrait of Galeazzo Maria Sforza.
In the halls of Rocchetta: Collections of Applied Art and a museum of historical musical instruments.
The “Torre Castellana” houses on the ground floor the treasury "Sala del Tesoro" with frescoes by Bramantino.
On the underground level of the Rocchetta and Sala Viscontea are the Prehistoric and the Egyptian Museum.

: Rocchetta tower Bona di Savoia

Visitis of the Castello Sforzesco and Sempione Park

Behind the castle is the Sempione Park with the Peace Arch Arco della Pace, the steel tower Torre Branca and the Triennale Design Museum with exhibitions of Italian design.

Parco Sempione

Opening times Sempione Park

In the winter months Monday to Sunday: 7.00 a.m. -6.00 p.m.
In the summer months Monday to Sunday: 7.00 a.m. -7.00 p.m.
admission free

: View of the city castle of the Sforza from the Torre Branca