Sforza Castle

Welcome to the Castello Sforzesco, one of the largest citadels in all of Europe and a formidable symbol of Milanese history. As you stand before the massive Torre del Filarete, the central tower that dominates the entrance, you…

As you pass through the main gate, you enter the vast Piazza d'Armi, the largest of the castle's courtyards. In the 15th and 16th centuries, this space was the heart of the castle's military activity, used for drilling troops and…

Entering the inner apartments, we reach Room 8, the legendary Sala delle Asse, or the Room of the Wooden Boards. In 1498, Ludovico 'Il Moro' Sforza commissioned his resident master, Leonardo da Vinci, to decorate this space. …

In a separate building on the castle grounds, the former Spanish Hospital, we find the castle's most profound treasure: the Pietà Rondanini. This is the last, unfinished work of Michelangelo Buonarroti, who worked on this piece…

Moving into the Museum of Ancient Art, we are confronted by a monumental work that defines the 14th-century power of the Visconti family: the Mausoleum of Bernabò Visconti. This striking equestrian monument was commissioned by…

The castle's Picture Gallery is home to over 1,500 paintings, but none is more significant than Andrea Mantegna’s 'Virgin in Glory and Saints,' also known as the 'Trivulzio Madonna.' Painted in 1497 for a church in Verona, it…

To truly appreciate the castle as a fortress, we must look at its outer defenses. The 'massive quadrangular' structure was once surrounded by deep moats and a complex system of city gates. …

As we conclude our exploration of the Castello Sforzesco, take a final look at the imposing walls that have stood for over five centuries. We have journeyed from the military drill grounds to the 'illusionistic grove' of Leonardo…

As we conclude our exploration of the Castello Sforzesco, take a final look at the imposing walls that have stood for over five centuries. We have journeyed from the military drill grounds to the 'illusionistic grove' of Leonardo…