Are you interested in knowing a fortress that rose from its ashes, and that today houses museums and artistic jewels? Then do not miss the opportunity to visit the Sforzesco Castle and learn about its history. Come and discover why it is one of the most important places of interest in the historic center.ico de Milán.
The construction of the Sforzesco Castle dates back to the 14th century, when it was created as a fortress in 1368 by order of Galeazzo II Visconti, lord of Milan. However, during the revolution and founding of the Ambrosian Republic, the castle was destroyed.
However, three years after that destruction, the Sforza family ordered the construction of a new castle, which they reformed and transformed into a ducal palace.
Centuries later, Napoleon demolished the structure and reserved what was left of the palace as a barracks for his soldiers. But in 1884 there was a debate about what to do with the castle, because part of the population wanted to build a residential area.
Fortunately, its historical value prevailed and thanks to the architect Luca Beltrami, it was restored to the appearance it had in the time of the Sforza.
Finally, in 2005 the last instances of restoration were carried out to repair the damage caused during the Second World War.
This imposing castle with a medieval structure and reddish brick is 200 meters long on each side of the fortress and towers at each of its vertices. The two on the main façade are robust circular towers whose mission was to reinforce the walls.
While the square tower of Homage located in the center of the façade serves as an access to the Sforzesco Castle, the Filarete tower softens the fortress aspect, and gives an elegant appearance to the residence.
As for the inner courtyards, La Rochetta and the Ducal Courtyard, they were embellished years later with Renaissance porticoed galleries topped with a slender semicircular arch and decorated ribbed vaults.
Years later, the ducal rooms were also decorated with vaults and paintings by artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Sforzesco Castle houses numerous museums in the rooms of what was the Ducal Palace. In each of them the cultural and social life of Milan and the Lombardy region is reviewed.
Among the most important is the Museum of Ancient Art, where works such as the Rondanini Pietà, the last sculpture Michelangelo worked on, and Da Vinci’s manuscript of the Codex Trivulziano are exhibited. In addition, it also has sculptures of great artistic value that belonged to the Sforza family.
You can also find the Pinacoteca where a wide collection of paintings from the 13th to the 18th century is displayed, and the Egyptian Museum with sarcophagi, mummies and funerary objects.
On the other hand, the castle keeps musical instruments from different parts of the world, in a museum dedicated to them. The most important instruments in this collection date from the 16th and 17th centuries, and almost all of them are lutes, clarinets, flutes or guitars.
So if you are interested in learning about art, Egyptian history or ancient musical instruments, the Sforzesco Castle has just what you are looking for.
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