Hello friends. Our today's hero has witnessed revolutions and uprisings, ups and downs of not a single dynasty. Still would. After all, the Sforza Castle has lived for more than seven centuries. And he will probably remind you of the Kremlin, because it was his appearance that the Italian architects took as a basis for the construction of the main Moscow landmark.
Italy. Lombardy region. Town . Castello Sforzesco - Castello Sforzesco or simply: Sforza Castle.
A beautiful place with a park. It is pleasant to walk in Sempione Park, especially in the morning. The castle houses expositions of 7 museums, which will take you about 2 hours to see.
Story
Once the Milanese castle, which we now know as the Sforza Castle, was built and served as the seat of the ruling dynasty of Milan - the dukes of Visconti. By the way, the famous Italian director Luchino Visconti is a descendant of this aristocratic family.
But this first castle was partly destroyed by a rioting mob. The Visconti family was replaced by the Sforza.
In the 15th century, Francesco Sforza rebuilt the castle, giving it more splendor and beauty. It is noteworthy that Leonardo da Vinci himself was involved in its decoration.
In general, every ruler who lived here tried to have a hand in decorating the castle. So, for example, Galeazzo Sforza, famous for extravagance, acquired expensive furniture and did not spare the treasury for luxurious finishes.
Under him, a Ballroom appeared in the palace, where receptions were held.
As soon as the Italian Wars began, Ludovico Sforza left Milan, and King Louis XII of France settled under the roof of the castle.
After him, the Milan castle could not boast of a good condition. And in 1521 what happened: lightning struck Philaret's tower. And since there was a warehouse where stocks of gunpowder were stored, the tower exploded.
In 1799, Castello almost suffered the fate of the Bastille. Then Napoleon was on the territory of the city. He was handed a petition that the building should be destroyed. But instead, the vain emperor ordered to break up the square in front of him.
By the middle of the 19th century, the building was restored, and the very exploded tower was rebuilt.
Modern life
Now a whole group of museums is comfortably located here. You can get through them with a single ticket.
Unfortunately, nothing remains of Leonardo da Vinci's frescoes.
- On the other hand, the ballroom and the Elephant's Portico have come down to us in good condition.
- Also here you can see the unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo "Pietu Rondanini".
- There is also a small art gallery, about 230 works of great Italian masters, including works by Bellini and F. Lippi.
- There is also a meeting here musical instruments.
- The museum rooms can be accessed from the Rochetta courtyard, which in turn is connected to the main entrance by the courtyard.
The windows of the castle overlook the Sempione Park.
It is famous for the Arch of Peace, an architectural monument of the 19th century.
According to Napoleon's idea, it was supposed to become a triumphal arch and, at the same time, 14 gates of Milan.
It is believed that this arch is in a straight line with Triumphal arch Paris and the Carrousel arch.
Many tourists do not go inside the castle, limiting themselves to a walk in the park. The park is very pleasant especially in the morning.
Park opening hours
- From 7:00 to 19:00 in summer
- From 7:00 to 18:00 in winter
- The entrance to the park is free.
Castle museums
- Open every day from Tuesday to Sunday.
- Monday is a day off. The lock is closed.
- Working hours: from 9:00 to 17:30
How much is
- A standard ticket allowing entry to all exhibitions of museums inside the castle is 5 euros.
- Reduced ticket 3 euros.
- Admission to the castle and its museums is free every Friday afternoon.
Music concerts are held in the castle.
Find out more on the official website: www.milanocastello.it
Where to stay in Milan
Now many housing options in Milan have appeared on the service Airbnb... We have written how to use this service. If you do not find an available hotel room, then look for accommodation through this booking site.
We stayed at Hotel Siena Milan, it is a 10-minute walk from the main railway station. Decent rooms, Recommended.
We offer good options for hotels and hostels in the center of Milan
How to get there
- By metro, take the MM1 Cairoli line or the MM2 Cadorna-Lanza line.
- By bus No. 37, 50, 58
- Another option by tram number 2, 4, 12, 14
Castle on the map
And in order not to miss anything important and necessary, just subscribe to our blog updates. Goodbye.
How is it in Milan without a castle? Of course, there is a castle here, and what is more - Castello Sforzesco, the beauty and pride of Milan, one of its main symbols and attractions, second in popularity, probably, only to the Duomo.
It wasn't always like this, though. The construction of Castello Sforzesco began in the 14th century. Initially, the castle was a quadrangular building with a large courtyard and internal buildings, which was gradually upset and strengthened, turning into a powerful defensive fortress... In 1450, during the riots and change of power in Milan, the government of the newly born Ambrosian Republic demanded to demolish the castle as a symbol of the hated previous rule (a familiar situation, isn't it?). But, the new Lord and ruler of Milan Francesco Sforza (the name of the castle comes from his name) behaved very wisely: not only did he not destroy the fortress, but also ordered to restore what had already been destroyed. This is where the story of the expansion and decoration of Castello Sforzesco begins, which over time has become one of the most luxury castles in all northern Italy... It reached its highest splendor during the reign of Duke Ludovico il Moro, who summoned Leonardo da Vinci himself and Donato Bramante, also a very famous architect and artist, for architectural work.
But the peace period did not last long, and in 1499 Castello Sforzesco was occupied by French troops. I will not bore you with long historical details, I will only say that after the French there were the Spaniards, then the Austrians, then Napoleon, invariably turning the castle into a military barracks, which did not at all contribute to its beauty and splendor. By 1880, Castello Sforzesco had reached such a miserable state that they again seriously wanted to demolish it. But, fortunately, this time too, the Castle was lucky - the Milan administration of that time approved a project for the complete restoration of Castello Sforzesco. And in 1893, restoration work began under the leadership of the architect Luca Beltrami, who did everything possible and impossible: after eight years of work, the result was amazing! Milan has finally found Its Castle - its symbol and its pride, which Castello Sforzesco is to this day.
What to look for: Filaret Tower- was built in the 15th century by the design of the Florentine architect Filaret (hence the name), but after the completion of construction work, on June 23, 1521, gunpowder, stored under the tower, exploded and completely destroyed it. During the restoration work of the castle, the indefatigable architect Luca Beltrami completely restored the tower, and in its original form. It is a quadrangular tower with a height of 70 meters, right under the first serrated ornament stands the statue of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan, above there is a tower clock.
Does it remind you of anything? Well, yes, the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. I will not argue that Castello Sforzesco is a genuine prototype, but it definitely looks like it!
Fountain "Wedding cake" or, as the Milanese call it “Torta di Spùs”, located right in front of the Filareta tower, is another attraction of Milan. For all romantic people looking for a soul mate: tossing a coin or two into the fountain brings good luck in matters of the heart, perhaps without leaving the fountain.
What to do yourself: A visit to Castello Sforzesco is free (great, isn't it?), But I highly recommend visiting the castle's museums as well. Price - 5 euros, for children under 18 (!) Years free of charge, every Tuesday from 2 pm free. Day off - Monday. The entrance, like the ticket to all museums, is the same, you just smoothly move from one museum to another. In addition to amazing works of art - paintings, tapestries, medieval armor and so on, everything is very interesting and beautiful, here you will find two real Egyptian mummies. Of course, you can't call them beautiful, but my children were delighted, and in Russia, I know, there are not a lot of mummies. So it will be interesting!
How to get there: Castello Sforzesco Castle is located in the center of Milan, so you can effortlessly walk from the Duomo on foot, along the most beautiful pedestrian street Dante, or by metro (red line M1, stop Cairoli), and there are no more trams and buses that stop here.
The inner tower was built by Galeazzo II Visconti in 1358-1368. She defended the entrance gate of Porta Jovia. In the XIV-XV centuries, the castle was expanded. It became rectangular in plan with four corner towers. The construction was supervised by Francesco Sforza (1450-1466). After his death, the fortress became a luxurious residence. The best artists and architects, including Leonardo and Bramante, worked on its main objects - the Armory Square, the Ducal Court and the Elephant Portico, the Rocketta Citadel and the Ponticella Bridge.
Castello Sforzesco © pisaphotography / Shutterstock.comBut the castle today is not only a monument of the past, but also an important Cultural Center, home to the Pinacoteca of Milan and the Municipal Museums with art collections.
Filarete Tower
This tower houses the main entrance to the castle. Today it is the main symbol of Milan. It was rebuilt in 1905 and is dedicated to Umberto I of Savoy, who was killed a few years earlier.
The original tower was destroyed in 1521 in a gunpowder store fire. Engineers and architects worked on it different eras including Filarete and possibly Bramante.
During the historical reconstruction of the tower, the engineer Beltrami used the preserved perimeter of the walls, archival documents, iconographic evidence, examples of the castles of Cusago and Vigheniano.
Pinakothek
© Wikimedia Commons
The City Pinakothek is located on the second floor of the Ducal Court (Corte Ducale) of the Sforza Castle. Like the Pinacoteca de Brera and the Ambrosiana Pinacoteca, it contains the city's great artistic heritage. The 1,500 paintings on display allow you to take an artistic journey into art from different periods, from the Lombard late Gothic to the Renaissance (paintings by Foppa, Bergognone and Bramantino), admire the famous works of Andrea Mantegna and Antonello da Messina.
Fresh water tank
Reservoirs have been preserved inside the north and south round towers of the castle. fresh water, which played an important role in the water supply of Milan at the beginning of the 20th century. The installation and adjustment of the tanks was carried out by the architect Luca Beltrami, who was entrusted with the restoration work in the castle.
The first tank was designed and placed in east tower, on the right, looking at the main entrance. It was metal and served as a pressure regulator in the water supply system. The second tank was placed in the south tower ten years later. Back then, its reinforced concrete structure was considered a bold and innovative solution.
Pivot hall
The Sala delle Asse, or the Axial Hall, is notable for the fact that Leonardo worked on it during the reign of Sforza. It is included in the Museum route ancient art the castle and is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:30 (Thursday until 22:30). No advance booking required. The cost of the entrance ticket is 5 euros, the reduced one is 3.50.
During EXPO 2015, restoration work will be suspended for unimpeded access to the hall. High-resolution images and holograms will be projected onto walls and ceilings.
Spanish Hospital - New Museum "Pieta Rondanini"
The old hospital had never been open to the public before. It was built in the middle of the 16th century for the Spanish garrison of the Sforza Castle. And now it houses the last statue of Michelangelo.
The master's last work, Pieta Rondanini, remained unfinished. But the drama of the composition is striking: the figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary emerge from the marble, mourning their dead son. This work is considered the spiritual testament of the great sculptor, who worked on the statue until the last days of his life. The unfinished statue was found in his Roman apartment, and then its traces were lost until it was found in the home of the Marquis Giuseppe Rondanini, a refined Roman art collector. After a series of resales, she finally found herself in a specially designated hall of the Sforza Castle.
- Last Minute Tours to italy
Previous photo Next photo
Not without castles in Milan. The most popular of these is the Sforza Castle, built in the middle of the 15th century. It will be especially interesting for 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, the Sforza Castle is like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin.
The castle contains rare canvases, various sculptures, busts of great Italians, there is a hall dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci. By the way, he was personally involved in decorating this castle. Also here are furniture, clocks, household utensils, bed linen, which, starting from the 15th century, were in use in the homes of noblemen. In addition, in the castle museum you can see the last (unfinished) sculpture by Michelangelo, Pieta Rondanini, paintings by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi, Correggio and Pontormo, as well as an interesting collection of musical instruments.
The history of the Milan castle dates back to the XIV century. True, the modern traveler will not find that option. In him locals they saw nothing more than a symbol of oppression and the stronghold of tyranny of the Visconti who ruled at that time, therefore they took it apart. The new castle appeared in the middle of the 15th century. through the efforts of the Sforza dynasty, which hoped to create the greatest residence in Europe.
But the age of prosperity was short-lived. Apparently, the difficult fate of the owners has spread to their offspring. Over the centuries, the fortress was destined to endure a variety of troubles: the indifference of the owners, military operations, lightning strikes, the organization of barracks and much more. Fate turned to face it only in the 19th century, when the restoration was carried out, which returned the medieval features to the complex. Much had to be restored after the Second World War.
The Sforza Castle and Sempione Park are the pride of the Milanese and one of the symbols of this ancient and beautiful city.
The decision to start building a castle-fortress was made in 1368 by the Duke of Milan Galeazzo II Visconti from the famous Visconti dynasty, which ruled Milan for about two centuries, from 1277 to 1447. The construction of the Sforza castle began under Francesco Sforza, who seized power in Milan in 1450.
Francesco Sforza died in 1466, and his successors, with the help of Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante, rebuilt the castle into a ducal residence. At the same time, the luxurious interiors of the castle were created, some of which can still be seen today. The castle began to include a series of courtyards, an elegant square, framed by arcades by Bramante and Filarete. The palace becomes the residence of the Dukes of Milan, Galeazzo and his wife Bona of Savoy moved here from the city palace.
During the reign of Duke Lodovico Moro, brother of Galeazzo (late 70s - 90s of the 15th century), the Sforza castle became one of the most beautiful and wealthy ducal courts in Italy
With the outbreak of the Italian Wars, Lodovico Sforza fled from Milan, and the French king Louis XII settled in the Sforza castle. Under his successor Francis, the castle fell into disrepair; in 1521 a powder store in the Filarete tower exploded from a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled
The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga, starting to strengthen the city, built the Sforza castle in the center of the new Milanese fortifications in the shape of a star. Barracks for 2,000 soldiers were set up in the palace chambers
During Spanish rule, the Sforza Castle, which continued to play the role of a defensive fortress, was surrounded by additional fortifications and massive ramparts. Drawings and literary sources from that time indicate that there was also a hospital, a tavern, storage for ice and food, and two military churches. The rooms, painted by Leonardo and Bramantino, were converted into utility rooms
During the time of Napoleon, the ducal power fell again, and part of the Milanese, professing extreme views, demanded the destruction of the Sforza Palace. Napoleon, in spite of these demands, decided to restore the old part of the castle-fortress to accommodate his troops. And in the castle the troops were again housed - now Napoleonic ones. Under Napoleon, numerous ramparts and fortifications built by the Spaniards were demolished. But only part of the territory was equipped, turned into a vast public garden.
During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again seized by the French, who were briefly driven out of the city by A.V. Suvorov in April 1799. After the return of the French, local patriots handed Napoleon a petition that Castello Sforzesco should share the fate of the Bastille as a symbol of the autocracy they hated. Instead of destroying the castle, Napoleon ordered to break up a spacious square in front of him. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of Castello was carried out in a romantic spirit, providing for the restoration of such signs of the Middle Ages as the moat around the castle
The restoration of the palace began by the middle of the 19th century. But they really started it only after the creation of a single independent Italian state in 1861. The castle at this time not only was included in the list of monuments subject to priority reconstruction, but was also recognized as one of the main symbols of the city.
Source: http://tiptotrip.ru/tips/962-zamok-sfortsa-v-milane#ixzz2322AbdjW
http://lifeglobe.net/blogs/details?id=783
3. They say that the Sforzesco Castle resembles the Moscow Kremlin, and this is really so, since the Kremlin was built by Milanese architects, who took as a model Milan Castle... An interesting architectural detail: all the walls and towers of castles are usually crowned with battlements, they are of two types: square, or in the form of a dovetail. It turns out this has its own background. Castles and fortresses with battlements in the form of a square were built by the Pope's sides, and with the shape of a swallow's tail were built by his opponents. So, already outwardly it was possible to foresee who this strengthening would bring. Therefore, after thinking logically in the Moscow Kremlin, the Milanese architects built the battlements in the form of a swallow's tail.
coat of arms of Milan ... 
4. The author of the original project is unknown, in all likelihood the beginning of construction was undertaken in 1368 and the castle experienced its moments of prosperity and decline, it was rebuilt many times. Right in front of the Castle there is big fountain, and behind him is the Tower of Filaret. This quadrangular tower is 70 meters high. The tower is adorned with several decorative elements ....
5.
The bas-relief above the gate depicts King Umberto I
6. Right below the first serrated ornament stands the statue of Saint Ambrogio between two large coats of arms,
7.
well above, there is a large tower clock. The clock is the "sunshine of justice" - the symbol of the Visconti family, who began the construction of this architectural monument ...
8. If you go under main tower, then you find yourself on large area- Piazza d'Armi - they used to play the role of a military training ground for the soldiers who guarded the castle.
9. The walls around the perimeter of the square are built-in buildings of museums and the Library, the square is also decorated with many decorative elements, columns, remains of sculptures, frescoes. The corner towers were built around 1455 - of course, their main purpose was defense, but as the guide told us, they also served as a prison. 
11.
Opposite the Filaret tower in 1729, a monument was erected to the famous Czech saint, Jan of Nepomuk (in Italian he sounds like San Giovanni Nepomucheno)
13.
Through the gate with the large coat of arms of the Sforza family, you can enter the Ducal courtyard, where the buildings of the Castello museums are located, and then the details of the castle ...
14. column with drinking water in the courtyard of the castle ...
15.in the yard, these cats were seen, which peacefully wandered here and there, but the most interesting thing is the bird that is between them - it feels quite comfortable)))
16. probably such a contact with eternity is more ... assimilable)
19.
The castle was once just huge, now some elements of the castle of the 16th century have been preserved behind its territory.
Castello Sforzesco
"Francesco Sforza, knowing how to fight, from a private person became the Duke of Milan, his children, evading the hardships of war, from the dukes became private individuals."
Nicolo Machiavelli, "The Sovereign"
Sforza Castle - one of the most famous castles in Italy, is located in the very heart of Milan and, being inextricably linked, symbolizes the entire centuries-old history of the city. Many times the castle was rebuilt, many times it had to defend itself not only from external enemies, but also from the townspeople themselves, but thanks to Italian architects and restorers, it can still delight any visitor today.
Giovanni Visconti The Sforza castle dates back to the time when the Duchy of Milan passed into the hands of the Visconti house, who managed to get it from the hands of their enemies - the Della Torre House. Thanks to the wise policy of the House of Visconti, in particular Matteo I (Matteo I), under his control was most of Lombardy.
Bernardo Bellotto, Castello Sforzesco di Milano, 1750 circa
During the reign of Giovanni Visconti, the Duchy of Milan captured the city of Bologna, gained access to the sea by capturing Genoa, under his control was one of the cantons of present-day Switzerland.
Giovanni Visconti died in 1354. The nephews of Matteo II, Galeazzo II and Bernabo inherited all of his possessions, including Milan. Matteo died a year later, so all the territories, including Milan, were divided between the two remaining brothers. Bernabo received the eastern lands on the border with Verona, Galeazzo - the western ones. Milan, on the other hand, had to be ruled by each brother in turn.
Il progetto dell "Antolini (lato Milano)
At that time Milan was a powerful city with a developed infrastructure: the city was surrounded by defensive walls and gates, bridges, markets were built, streets of the city were paved and provided with sewage.
Between 1360 and 1370 Galeazzo II decides to strengthen one of the city gates and begins the construction of a castle-fortress as part of the existing city walls. The case was continued by Galeazzo's son, Gian-Galeazzo. He built a small building that served as a barracks for the mercenaries.
1958 The plan for the construction of a castle from the time of Visconti Gian during the years of his reign (1378-1402) centralized the administration of the duchy, created conditions for the development of arts, industry and trade. It was under him that the famous Milanese Cathedral Duomo.
Bramantino, Argo, Sala del Tesoro
Estátua de San giovanni(São João) Nepomuceno
The last of the Visconti dynasty, Filippo Maria, continued work on the construction of the castle, which had already turned into a ducal residence. On the initiative, a park was laid out near the castle.
Filippo had no male heirs, and his illegitimate daughter, Bianca Maria, married a prominent Milanese mercenary commander, Francesco Sforza.
After the death of Filippo in 1447, the Milanese, tired of the tyranny of the Visconti, proclaimed the so-called. Ambrosian Republic. The Visconti castle was destroyed, and its stones were used to pay debts to the builders who renovated the old city walls.
The republic did not last long, only 3 years. During this time, Francesco Sforza managed to protect her from several attacks from both the Venetians and the Lombardians. Given this success and his role in the victories, Francesco managed to proclaim himself the new Duke of Milan.
After coming to power, Sforza decides to build a castle that he himself had destroyed. According to his plan, the new fortress should become a symbol of the city's beauty and protect Milan from possible opponents. Many famous architects were commissioned to work on the castle, including Jacopo da Cortona, Giovanni da Milano and Marcoleone da Nogarolo.
Francesco Sforza
In 1452, the Florentine architect Antonio Averulino, also known as "Il Filarete", was commissioned to build the castle's central passage tower. Although the castle was conceived as a luxurious residence of the duke, Antonio was soon removed from work and the military architect Bartolomeo Gadio took over.
To complete the work, Sforza even asked for permission from the Pope to destroy the church that was interfering with construction. However, despite such a love for the brainchild, Sforza still preferred to live in Milan in the old Arengo Palace.
After the death of Francesco Sforza in 1466, his first son, Galeazzo Maria, came to power in Milan. He again fired up the idea of making a luxurious residence out of the castle and ordered Florentine architects. They added many new elements, including designed stables for 90 horses.
Historians, however, characterize the Sforza of that time as people who love to buy luxurious things, horses, diamonds, but at the same time sleeping next to the "chicken coop". They often fell asleep in the same hall where the banquet had taken place before.
After several years of tireless work, the castle has turned into a luxurious residence. Rocchetta's courtyard was decorated with a portico, and inside one of the rooms was a Ballroom ("Sala della Balla"). Here Galeazzo Maria loved to play sports something similar to modern tennis.
Galeazzo Maria Sforza was killed on December 26, 1476 in front of the chapel of St. Stephen. Fearing for her life, his wife Bona of Savoy built a high tower in the most protected part of the castle, Rochetta. From here she could observe all the buildings. Today this tower is known as the "Torre di Bona" (Bona Tower).
In 1480, Galeazzo Maria's young son, Maria, was seized by his brother, Lodovico Maria, also known as "Il Moro"
In 1482, Duke Lodovico invited Leonardo da Vinci to serve in Milan to serve in the college of ducal engineers. The latter decorated the castle with frescoes in the "Sala delle Asse". After a lengthy restoration, the frescoes can still be seen today. During the so-called. "Italian wars" Milan, and with it the Sforza Castle passed into the hands of the French, then the Swiss, then into the hands of the troops of the Holy Roman Empire.
On June 23, 1521, the archives report that lightning struck the Filaret Tower of the castle. The tower was used as an ammunition depot, so the tower was almost completely destroyed and the castle was seriously damaged.
Starting in 1549, new massive walls were built around Milan (outside of the old ones). The Sforza castle was connected to them with a "Tenaglie" (claw). Some led to Porta Comasina, others to Porta Vercellina. Soon, however, such a system was recognized as unsuccessful and was replaced by the bastion system, which had already proven its effectiveness by that time.
The Sforza Castle turned from a luxurious residence into a real fortress, it could simultaneously house up to 2,000 soldiers. All construction costs were borne by the residents of Milan. According to archival sources, the fortress also contained a hospital, a pharmacy, craft shops, a bakery, a tavern, warehouses and two churches.
In 1706, Milan was captured by the Austrians under the leadership of Eugene of Savoy. The castle was again used as a barracks, now for Austrian soldiers.
One of the important lines in the history of the Milan castle is connected with Napoleon. On May 9, 1796, Duke Ferdinand fled from Milan, leaving a garrison of only 2,000 soldiers, 152 cannons, 3,000 quintals of gunpowder to defend the city. At first, the Austrian lieutenant Lamy managed to restrain the townspeople who supported the French, but Milan was besieged by Napoleon and on May 15, 1796 the French emperor entered the city. By the end of June, the castle was also in French hands.
Napoleon planned to place a garrison of 4,000 people in the castle, but the fanatical citizens of Milan demanded that the symbol of the former tyranny be destroyed to the ground. Fortunately, in April 1799, troops approached Milan, under the leadership of A. V. Suvorov (Russia, England and Austria undertook joint military actions against the expansion of Napoleon), the city was besieged and taken by the Suvorov army. Soon, at the request of the Austrian emperor, Suvorov had to leave with the army to Switzerland (this was his famous crossing over the Alps).
The ducal chapel was converted into a stable, the duke's rooms were converted into dorms, and the frescoes were painted over with lime.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the bastions and ramparts of the star fortifications, built during the Austrian rule, were demolished. The population was jubilant! According to the new project, a huge square appeared around the castle, called Foro Bonaparte. In the center of it is the Sforza Castle, which was supposed to house the government.
However, after April 1801, the project was postponed, and then gradually transformed into the square known today as Piazza delle Armi. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the Austrians returned to Milan. Little has changed in the life of the Sforza Castle - it continued to be used as barracks. Only on the gates in the northwestern part of the castle appeared several decorative elements depicting generals from the Habsburg dynasty.
During the "Five Days" (Milanese uprising) from 18 to 22 March 1848, the cannons of the Sforza Castle fired at Milan. All the instigators of the uprising were arrested and imprisoned in the prison cells of the castle.
After the departure of the Austrians from Lombardy in 1859, the castle was captured and plundered by the inhabitants of Milan.
After the Reunification of Italy (Risorgimento), various projects were proposed to rebuild the Sforza Castle. Some again proposed to destroy it, someone considered it necessary to rebuild the fortifications in the Gothic style, etc. As a result, the "philological" option was chosen. Work began in 1893 under the direction of the architect Luca Beltrami. The height of several towers was reduced, the walls that connected the castle with the city walls were demolished. The old rooms, frescoes, cornices were restored, the roof was refurbished. The duke's apartment houses a museum.
Fra Filippo Lippi - Madonna of Humility (Trivulzio Madonna)
The opening of the Sforza castle to the general public took place in May 1900. The entire reconstruction of the castle was completed in 1905 with the restoration of the Filarete tower.
Museo egizio di Milano (situato nel Castello sforzesco). Sarcofago di Tas-Bestet-Peret. Tebe, XXVI dinastia.
Unfortunately, the Second World War did not spare the castle and in 1943 during the bombing it was seriously damaged again, especially the Rocchetta.
By 1956, the castle was again restored in the form that any visitor can see today.
Pietro Bussolo "Annunciata" Bassorilievo ligneo, 1480 circa
Egyptian Museum
Musical Instrument Museum
Furniture Museum
The castle of Milan was originally erected in the XIV century as the residence of the Visconti, but was dismantled by a crowd of rebellious people after the proclamation of the Ambrosian Republic. Rebuilt by Francesco Sforza in the middle of the 15th century. In the second half of the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci was involved in decorating the castle; of his works, only a pergola and a manuscript with literary experiments have survived.
The appearance of the Sforza fortress was taken as a model by the Milanese architects who worked on the Moscow Kremlin (the shape of the towers and the crown of the battlements crowning the walls). The central tower of the Milanese fortress ("Filarete Tower") was designed by Antonio Filarete, who at one time worked with Aristotle Fioravanti.
With the outbreak of the Italian Wars, Lodovico Sforza fled from Milan, and the French king Louis XII settled in Castello Sforzesco. Under his successor Francis, the castle fell into disrepair; in 1521 a gunpowder store in the Filarete tower exploded from a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled. The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga, starting to strengthen the city, built the Sforza castle in the center of the new Milanese fortifications in the shape of a star. Barracks for 2,000 soldiers were set up in the palace chambers.
During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again seized by the French, who were briefly driven out of the city by A.V. Suvorov in April 1799. After the return of the French, local patriots handed Napoleon a petition that Castello Sforzesco should share the fate of the Bastille as a symbol of the autocracy they hated. Instead of destroying the castle, Napoleon ordered to break up a spacious square in front of him. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of Castello was carried out in a romantic spirit, providing for the restoration of such signs of the Middle Ages as the moat around the castle. During the restoration in 1900, the famous Filarete Tower was also recreated.
Today, the Sforza Castle houses a group of museums ( ancient egypt, prehistoric, musical instruments, dishes and a number of others), for which a single entrance ticket(admission is free on Friday afternoons). Almost no trace of Leonardo's frescoes in the ducal chambers remained; the ballroom and the "elephant portico" have survived to this day in much better condition. In the castle you can see the last (unfinished) sculpture by Michelangelo, Pieta Rondanini, paintings by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi, Correggio and Pontormo, as well as an interesting collection of musical instruments.
