Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) in Milan, Italy. Sforza Castle Sforza Castle

Sforza Castle or Castello Sforzesco (Castello Sforzesco) is one of the main symbols of the history of Milan. The castle was built in the fifteenth century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, on the remains of a previous fortification dating back to the fourteenth century, known as Castrum Porte Jovis (Castle of Porte Jovia or Zobia).

Throughout its long history, the castle has repeatedly undergone significant transformations. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest strongholds in Europe. Nowadays, Sforza Castle is home to important cultural institutions and tourist sites.

Interesting! The appearance of parts of the Sforza castle was taken as a model during the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, which is clearly expressed in the form of towers and battlements of the walls. For this reason, you can hear how the castle is called the Milan Kremlin, however, based on history, it is rather the Kremlin that should be called the Moscow Sforza.

Sforza Castle is located in the historical center of Milan, on the castle square (Piazza Castello) and symbolizes the main entrance to Sempione Park. was broken up on the site of the former parade ground near the castle.

In front of the main entrance to the castle, on Piazza Castello, you can see the fountain of the same name (Fontana di Piazza Castello), shaped like a cake. After all, it is not for nothing that the fountain is called the “Wedding Cake”.

Currently, the castle has been restored and welcomes guests with open arms. From the outside of the castle, one can see imposing walls and towers, as well as several gates, i.e. You can get into the castle from four of its sides, along the bridges thrown over the moats.

Behind the fountain in the form of a cake are the main gates and the main tower of the castle - the tower of Filaret (La torre del Filarete). Torre del Filarete is the highest and perhaps the most impressive castle tower. This multi-tiered quadrangular tower reaches almost 71 meters in height.

The main gate leads to the courtyard of the castle. Inside the castle, everything is strictly and proportionally. Here you can see open areas - three courtyards, the main one is the largest and two smaller ones - Roccetta and the Ducal Court.

And within the castle walls is the Sforza Castle Museum Complex, consisting of libraries and several museums related to the history and culture of Milan and directly to the Sforza Castle. For example, the Castello Sforzesco Art Museum, the Museum of the History of the Castle, the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Museum of Furniture and Wooden Sculptures, etc.

Rochchetta (La Rocchetta) - the most impregnable part of the castle, in which you could hide in case of an attack. You can enter Rochetta from the main courtyard of the castle.

Roccetta consists of a small square courtyard on four sides surrounded by walls of five floors.

Rochchetta is protected by two towers: the Bona di Savoia tower (La torre di Bona di Savoia), located between Rochchetta and the bridgehead, and the Castellana tower, in the western corner of the castle. The tower called Bona was built in 1477.

Interior of Rocchetta with the Tower of Bona di Savoia

Ducal court (La Corte Ducale) - the inner part of the castle with greenery and a pool, which is one of the three courtyards. In this place during the Renaissance, the apartments of the dukes and the center of court life were located. The court is U-shaped and occupies the northern part of the castle. It was built and decorated in the second half of the fifteenth century. Although over the next four centuries the Ducal Court was converted into barracks and damaged and altered, nineteenth-century restorations restored the appearance and decorations of the Renaissance.

The rear wall of the court is occupied by the so-called "Portico of the Elephant" (Portico dell "Elefante), supported by stone columns, where there is a faded fresco depicting exotic animals, including a lion and an elephant. This fresco is called the elephant fresco. Currently, there is a tombstone under the portico, in Latin characters, which stood in front of the "Shameful Column" in today's Piazza Vetra, built in 1630 and demolished in 1778. The column was erected on the site of the house of Gian Giacomo Mora, unjustly accused of spreading the plague, for which he was first tortured, and then and executed.

The rear façade of the castle is the oldest, and corresponds to a fourteenth-century building erected by Galeazzo Visconti. One of the four gates of the castle is located here. The Gate Bridge is called the Ludovico il Moro Bridge (ponticella di Ludovico il Moro) and leads straight to Sempione Park.

Right (northeast) entrance to Sforza Castle

Left (southwest) entrance to Sforza Castle

Opening hours of the Sforza Castle in Milan

Daily. From November to March: from 07:00 to 18:00, from April to October: from 07:00 to 19:00. Entrance to the castle is free (free), but you will have to pay for admission to museums (there is a system of discounts and a flexible schedule of free visits).

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Not without castles in Milan. The most popular of them is the Sforza Castle, built in the middle of the 15th century. It will be of particular interest to tourists from Russia. Why is the castle so remarkable? First of all, the shape of the towers and the crown of the crowning wall of the battlements are like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin. There is nothing surprising in this: the Milanese architects, who were invited to work on the project of the Moscow Kremlin, took the appearance of the Sforza fortress, hence the similarity.

The shape of the towers and the crown of the crowning wall of the battlements of the Sforza Castle are like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin.

The castle contains rare paintings, various sculptures, busts of great Italians, there is a hall dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci. By the way, he was personally engaged in the decoration of this castle. Also here are furniture, clocks, household utensils, bed linen, which, starting from the 15th century, were in use in the homes of nobles. In addition, in the castle museum you can see Michelangelo's last (unfinished) sculpture, the Pieta Rondanini, paintings by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi, Correggio and Pontormo, as well as a curious collection of musical instruments.

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) in Milan - Photo

(ital. Castello Sforzesco) - the fortified residence of the Dukes of the Sforza dynasty in Milan (Italy).

The castle in Milan was first built in the 14th century as the residence of the Visconti family, but after the proclamation of the Ambrosian Republic it was destroyed. In the middle of the 15th century, Francesco Sforza restored the castle. In the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci himself worked on the appearance of the castle. Until now, only a pergola and notes with literary experiments have remained from his works.

The appearance of the Sforza castle was taken as a model by the Milanese architects who built the Kremlin in Moscow, namely: battlements on the walls, the shape of the towers. The main tower of the fortress (Filarete Tower) was designed by Antonio Filarete, who worked together with Aristotle Fioravanti.

During the Italian Wars, Ludovico Sforza left Milan, and King of France Louis XII occupied his castle. In 1521, lightning struck the powder store, which was located in the Filaret tower, as a result of which it was allowed. The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga decided to fortify the city and erected new star-shaped fortifications around the Sforza castle. Barracks for 2 thousand soldiers were located in the palace premises.

During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again captured by the French, who were briefly driven out by Suvorov in 1799. After Napoleon arrived in Milan, the locals handed him a petition that the Sforza Castle should be destroyed following the example of the Bastille in France, as a symbol of the hated autocracy. But instead of destroying the castle, Napoleon ordered to build a large square in front of it. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of the fortress was organized, during the restoration of 1900, the Filarete tower was restored.

Now in the Sforza castle there are several museums: prehistoric, ancient Egypt, dishes, musical instruments. Almost nothing remains of da Vinci's frescoes; the ballroom and portico are much better preserved.

In the fortress you can see the last sculpture of Michelangelo - Pieta Rondanini.

Initially, Sforza Castle was built by Duke Galeazzo Visconti, a representative of a powerful dynasty that ruled for over a hundred years. The fortress appeared in the first half of the 14th century, but by the middle of this century the duke lost his influence, an uprising took place in the city, and with the beginning of the Ambrosian Republic, the ducal possessions were destroyed by crowds of townspeople.

However, the republic did not last long, and in 1450 Francesco Sforza came to power, who began to restore the fortress. He completely rebuilt the family residence, making it even more impregnable, erected reliable fortress walls and high towers, including the famous Filarete tower. His son Galeazzo continued his father's work and invited the famous architect Benedetto Ferrini to reconstruct the castle, who built two courtyards.

The next owner, Ludovico Sforza, decided that the building lacked elegance and invited the best Italian craftsmen to finish it. It was then that the frescoes of Leonardo da Vinci appeared here, which, unfortunately, have practically not survived to this day. But this period of prosperity Castello Sforzesco ended. With the outbreak of the Italian Wars, the duke went into exile, and Louis XII entered the Sforza castle.

Both the French king and the Spanish governor who came to replace him in this territory did not need an elegant secular palace, but a military fortification, so the ballrooms quickly turned into barracks for soldiers. At this time, the Filarete tower was turned into a powder store, and an accidental lightning strike in 1521 provoked a powerful explosion. As a result, the tower was almost completely destroyed.

When the French returned to the city under the leadership of Napoleon, part of the Milanese filed a petition to the emperor for the destruction of the Sforza castle, as a reminder of the ducal dominion. Fortunately, Napoleon decided otherwise - he did not destroy the fortress, but on the contrary - partially restored it and laid a beautiful square in front of the entrance. However, a significant part of the Castello Sforzesco was still used as a barracks.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the castle was occupied by the Austrians, and for the next few years it either strengthened or, on the contrary, suffered destruction during the opposition of Milan to the Austrian army. The year 1859 turned out to be especially destructive, when the Austrians left the city, and the fortress was plundered.

A new round in the history of Castello Sforzesco began with the unification in 1861. It was recognized as an architectural monument and as such was actively restored. So, the corner towers of the fortress wall were rebuilt, and in 1900, according to the surviving descriptions, the Filarete tower was restored. A huge role in recreating the former appearance of the Sforza Castle was played by the architect Luca Beltrami, who led the process based on historical documents. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Castello Sforzesco was opened to the public as a tourist attraction.

Restoration after WWII

With the outbreak of World War II, another difficult period began in the history of Sforza Castle - in 1943, one of the courtyards was damaged as a result of the bombardment, part of the fortress walls were destroyed. After the end of hostilities, the architectural monument began to be restored, but the process turned out to be long and lasted until 1956. It was important not only to rebuild the walls, but also to recreate the interior decoration with historical accuracy, to restore the damaged frescoes. However, the Milanese coped with this task - the Sforza castle once again regained its beauty and grandeur.

Castle today

Today, the grandiose Castello Sforzesco looks as luxurious as in the old days of its heyday. Although the former moat has long been overgrown with grass, the four corner towers still protrude powerfully from the walls. The entrance tower of Filarete has also been completely restored, on the top of which the castle clock “The Sun of Justice” beats the time - they are installed here in memory of the first owner, Duke Visconti.

Passing through the arched opening of the tower, you can get to the inner square of the Sforza castle - Piazza delle Armi (Piazza del Armi). From here, through another fortress gate, there is a path deep into the castle buildings, to two courtyards: Corte Ducale will be on the right, and Rochetta on the left. In times of uprisings and wars, the Rochetta courtyard was the safest corner of the fortress. As for the Corte Ducale, it also bears the name of the Duke's courtyard, since it was here that the Duke's rooms were once located.

Museums of the Sforza Castle

Today, there are several museums inside the towers and other buildings of the Castello Sforzesco. There is the Archaeological Museum with a collection of artifacts from prehistoric times, the Egyptian Museum with real mummies, and the Museum of Antique Furniture. The art gallery contains paintings by Italian artists of the Renaissance and Rococo eras: Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni Tiepolo and Giovanni Canal (Canaletto), the famous Titian Vecellio and others.

Among the most striking exhibits of the castle, two tombstones made by Italian sculptors of the 14th and 16th centuries, Bonino di Campione and Agostino Busti, can also be distinguished. Here is the last work of the great Michelangelo - the unfinished "Pieta Rondanini", a statue of Our Lady with the body of Christ in her arms. The master worked on it 6 days before his death, but did not have time to finish it.

In the hall delle Asse, which is located in the Falconieri tower, you can see traces of the work of another genius of Italy - frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci have been preserved here. The decoration of this room is one of two works by Leonardo for the Sforza castle that have survived to this day (the other is a garden pergola). This tower overlooks the courtyard of Corte Ducale, and in the buildings of another courtyard of Rocetta there is a museum of applied arts and musical instruments. They store exhibits dating back to the Middle Ages.

underground tunnels

As befits a real ancient fortress, Sforza Castle has a developed network of underground passages. It is known that a significant part of them was built at the time when Ludovico Sforza lived here - the duke wanted to be able to leave his residence at any time. According to legend, one of the long tunnels could go beyond the walls and reach the monastery of Santa Maria della Grazia. Whether this is true or not is now impossible to verify, since the tunnel has been destroyed.

After the underground network was expanded by the Spanish invaders. Remaking the castle into a military garrison, they paid great attention to secret passages from the fortress, restored old corridors and created new ones. Some of the dungeons are well preserved, and today one of the tunnels is open to visitors - this is Strada Coperta delle Ghirlanda. It runs around the fortress under the Sempione Park.

How to get there

Sforza Castle is located almost in the center of the city - even without a map you can walk here in 5-10 minutes from the Milan Duomo Cathedral.

The exact address: Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano

Option 1

Underground: on the MM1 or MM2 branch to the Cadorna Triennale station.

Option 2

Bus: routes No. 61, 94, 58, 50 to the Cadorna stop.

Option 3

Bus: routes number 57 to the stop "Lanza".

Option 4

Tram: lines 1 and 4 to the Cairoli stop.

Option 5

Tram: lines 2, 12 and 14 to the Via Cusani stop.

Sforza Castle on the map

Attractions around the castle

Sempione Park

If you go through the entire territory of the castle from the gates of the Filarete tower, you can get to the nearby Sempione Park. It is very popular with both tourists and residents of Milan, who often come here for a walk or a picnic on the grass. This park was founded in 1893, and since then it has been a favorite place for relaxation among the Milanese.

peace arch

The main attraction of Sempione Park is the Arch of Peace, installed in the early 19th century by Napoleon. This majestic building was founded in 1807, when, inspired by the victory on the Apennine Peninsula, the emperor decided to build something similar to the Parisian Arc de Triomphe in Milan. By the way, it is believed that the Arch of Peace is located on the same line with its French sister.

Initially, Napoleon planned to make this new building the secret gate of Milan and solemnly enter the city through it. But these plans were not destined to come true - the construction had to be frozen after the French left Italy. However, the arch at the Sforza Castle was still completed and is now another point of attraction for tourists and a popular place for photos.

The first architect to design the arch was Luigi Cañona, but he did not live to see the completion of the construction. After the departure of Napoleon, work continued only in 1826 under the direction of Francesco Londonio and Francesco Peverelli. The authors of the sculptures on its top were Sangiorgio (Sestiga of the world) and J. Putti (four goddesses of Victoria).

It is interesting that, according to the first project, the arch in the park near the castle was supposed to glorify the victories of Napoleon, but after his fall, adjustments had to be made. And then the second project was developed - an allegorical panel depicting the expulsion of the French. The Arch of Peace got its name in honor of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, where the borders of European states, destroyed by the conquests of Napoleon, were restored.

Fountain in Piazza Castello

The square in front of the Sforza Castle is decorated with a large fountain, which the Milanese call the "Wedding Cake". It really resembles a cake in its shape, but this is not the only thing - it is believed that the fountain fulfills romantic desires if you throw a coin into it. Maybe that's why lovers often take photos here.

This attraction has a complicated history. Appearing in the 30s of the 20th century, the fountain did not work for so long - during the Second World War it had to be turned off. After it was launched again, but during the construction of the metro line it turned out that this is where the Cairoli station should be located. And again the fountain was turned off and dismantled. From improper storage, its parts deteriorated, many of them had to be made anew, but in 2000, the “Wedding Cake” finally adorned Piazza Castello again.

Tours

Thematic exhibitions dedicated to the history of one or another of its sights open all year round in the Sforza Castle. Among them there are also children's tours for visitors 4-11 years old - they include master classes, creative seminars and an educational program presented in a form understandable to children. Also, special family events are held annually in honor of Easter, Christmas, Halloween and other major holidays.

Every weekend in the Sforza Castle there are excursions to the underground tunnels and to the upper galleries of the fortress walls. Walking along the battlements from tower to tower allows you to look at the fortress and its surroundings from a height, as well as learn about the military history of these places. Dungeons, on the other hand, reveal to visitors the secret life of the castle, its hidden passages and traps. True, this tour is only suitable for those who do not suffer from claustrophobia, and in addition, children under 10 years old are not allowed on it.

Numerous tour agencies offer, in addition to the usual, costume tours. In these cases, visitors are told about the history of the fortress by Leonardo da Vinci himself or Isabella of Aragon, the wife of one of the Dukes of Sforza.

Opening hours and entry price

Opening hours:

• Fortresses - from 07:00 to 19:30;
• Museums - from 09:00 to 17:30.

During winter, the castle closes an hour earlier. The last visitors to museums start no later than 17:00.

Ticket price:

• Adult - 5 euros ( ~352 rub. );
• Preferential - 3 euros ( ~211 rub. ).

You can also take a single ticket for all museums, which costs 12 euros ( ~845 RUB ) and is valid for 3 days.

Entrance to the castle grounds on weekdays is completely free for everyone. Payment is charged only for visiting the museums located inside the fortress. But they can also be entered free of charge every Tuesday after 14:00 and on any other day one hour before closing.

Before the visit, check the information at.

The Sforza Castle has been one of the most significant, most important buildings in Milan for centuries. It is associated with key moments in the history of the city, its defeat and victory. For many years, the fortress died several times and, like a Phoenix, was reborn to life. Today, its strict, severe beauty reminds of its former power and creates a unique atmosphere of Italy's revived past.

We recommend choosing comfortable shoes and devoting a whole day to walking around the castle, visiting all its museums. And if you get tired, you can relax on the benches in the shady Sempione Park or complete the tour with a visit to the Milan Aquarium. It is located on the outskirts of the park and will surprise both with its elegant facade and 26 aquariums with marine and river inhabitants located inside.

Sforza Castle (or Sforzesco) is one of the most famous sights of Milan and a real symbol of the city. The building has been in existence for seven centuries. It bears the name of Duke Francesco Sforza, whose residence he served. Nowadays, the castle is an architectural complex in the historical center with a large garden and several museums located on its territory.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci himself was engaged in decorating the Sforzesco Castle.

Over the seven centuries of the existence of the castle, several well-known sculptors, architects and artists managed to work on its external and internal appearance. Piazza delle Armi spreads around it, formerly serving as a parade ground. Also around the walls of the fortress in 1893, the Sempione Park was laid out, which is still considered one of the main parks in Milan. In Sforza Castle and Sempione Park, you can often meet not only tourists traveling around the city, but also local residents who also like to spend their free time here.

Story

Initially, this castle was built in the 14th century, when the aristocratic Visconti dynasty decided to acquire a residence near Milan (at that time this territory was not part of the city). Despite the defensive structures erected around the castle, the Visconti family was attacked during the overthrow of power and was forced to leave their home. The castle itself was half destroyed by a rioting mob.

After a few years of the existence of the new republic, Francesco Sforza, a military leader and the new Duke of Milan, came to power, who made Sforzesco his residence, and under him the dilapidated castle was restored. A more reliable defense was built around the Sforzesco, and towers were also erected. It is worth noting that the duke thought not only about the defensive ability of the castle, but also about its beauty, and we can still observe the facade decoration remaining since then, made by the famous architect Averumin.

The castle became the residence of the dukes only under the son of Francesco Sforza - Galeazzo. He expanded the castle and brought in the skilled architect Ferrini for interior decoration. Galeazzo also paid great attention to the interior of his residence, so under him luxurious expensive furniture, paintings and other art objects appeared in the castle. The main part of all this beauty can still be seen, once inside the Castello Sforzesco.

Galeazzo's brother, Ludovico Sforza, continued to work on the improvement of the castle and invited Leonardo da Vinci to complete the murals. Some fragments of frescoes by the great artists have been preserved to our time in very good condition. They are located in the Sala delle Asse. Separate manuscripts of his literary works have also been preserved.

In the XVI century. during the Italian wars, the castle was abandoned by the owners and fell into disrepair. The Sforzesco continued to be raided during the Revolutionary Wars and was significantly damaged. Its restoration was carried out only in 1833, and then the castle acquired many romantic features. However, during the wars in the middle of the XIX century. Between the Italians and the Austrians, the Sforza Castle was again plundered and was in disrepair until 1900. This year, a large-scale restoration of the castle was carried out, and to this day it exists in the form that it acquired during the restoration.

Exterior view of the Castello Sforzesco and the Moscow Kremlin

Russian tourists, visiting the Sforza fortress, immediately note its external resemblance to the Moscow Kremlin. The main similar features of these two sights are the shape of the towers and a series of battlements on the fortress walls. The reason for these similarities is as follows: the main Sforzesco tower was designed by Antonio Filarete. This architect at one time worked with another famous Italian master - Aristotle Fioravanti. It was Fioravanti who was the author of the Kremlin project in Moscow.

The Sforzesco Central Tower itself is 70 meters high in shape. It is decorated with a bas-relief depicting the Italian king Umberto I. Also on the first tier of the tower are frescoes with coats of arms and a portrait of St. Ambrose. On the second tier there is a clock, which is called the "Sun of Justice", which has remained here since the days of the Visconti dynasty. The tower houses the main gate of the Castello Sforzesco, through which you can enter the courtyard.

Museums of the Sforza Castle

Nowadays Castello Sforzesco is a very important place in terms of culture, not only because of its historical role, but also because several museums are now located here. First of all, it is worth mentioning the magnificent art gallery of the castle, which exhibits works by famous Italian artists from different eras. Sforzesco also houses the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Medieval Art (here are objects of everyday life and art of the 13th-15th centuries) and the Reunification Museum.

Of particular note is the unfinished sculpture Pieta Rondanini by Michelangelo.

Among the other most interesting exhibits of the Sforza Castle is a hall dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci, a huge collection of musical instruments, and the tombstone of the Duke of Visconti. Individual rooms are also of great interest to tourists: here you can see the ball game room and the room from the Roccabianca castle. The frescoes in this room depict the heroine of Bocaccio's Decameron, an iconic image of her time.

Additional Information

Castello Sforzesco is open to the public daily. The exceptions are January 1, May 1 and December 25. You can get here from 7:00 to 19:30, visiting the territory of the fortress is free.

If you want to see not only the territory of the castle, but also the museums located in it, you will need to purchase a single ticket. The price of a single ticket is 10 euros, the ticket is valid for one day and allows you to visit all the museums and exhibitions of the castle. There is a system of discounts for children and preferential categories. The Sforzesco Museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday, opening hours are 9:00-17:30, last entry until 17:00. They are closed to the public on major holidays such as Christmas.

How to get to the Sforza Castle

Sforza is located near the center of Milan, in the Porta Umberto area, so getting here by public transport is not difficult. Near the castle are the metro stations Cadorna - Cairoli (M1 line) and Cadorna - Lanza (M2 line). The Cadorna public transport stop is also located here. Buses 50, 57, 58, 61 and 94 go to it. Trams number 1, 2, 4, 12, 14 and 27 also follow to the castle.

If you want to get to Costello Sforzesco with the greatest comfort, use taxi services such as Uber or Yellow Taxi.

Sforza Castle on google-panoramas: