To get to know a city you have to live it, you have to feel its smells, its noises, you have to live its habits and contradictions. You must first know its origins, the history that shaped it to make it what it is today. To claim to know Milan one must first have visited a milestone in its history, the Castello Sforzesco.

The history of the Castello Sforzesco

It is a medieval fortification that has its roots in the late Middle Ages. This giant stands on the "ashes" of another castle which in the fourteenth century was first a military seat, then a noble house, the castle of Porta Giovia.

Sforzesco Castle - exterior

The "construction" of the Castle was commissioned by the Captain of fortune Francesco Sforza, who made it his home. The works began in 1450. From what we can define a rebirth, rather than a reconstruction, an immense castle emerged. Even today it boasts record size, in fact it is among the largest medieval castles in Europe.

The interior of the castle

Within the walls and rooms of the fortress, history and art peep out. The dimensions, extreme in some ways, of the castle have allowed architects, artists and prominent personalities of the various eras to leave a piece of their art without ever distorting its essence. As with almost all castles with such ancient origins, there have been numerous properties and characters who have lived there. From noble figures to illustrious "men of war", including Napoleon Bonaparte, until its definitive restructuring at the end of the nineteenth century by the hand of the political historian and architect Luca Beltrami.

Sforzesco Castle - seen from the outside

The museums in the Castello Sforzesco

The history of this castle is very complex and articulated, made up of continuous attacks, demolitions and reconstructions. Fortunately for us and for generations to follow, the castle became the seat of enormous cultural riches, of unparalleled historical and artistic value. In fact, inside the fortress numerous museums, libraries, archives and exhibitions find space. You will find this immense keeper of wisdom a few minutes drive from the historic center of Milan. It is easily accessible by metro. Better to book tickets for the visit, directly from the site. It is perhaps due to its size, or even its history, that the fortification today hosts an impressive number of exhibitions, museums, collections, archives and libraries. Here is just a taste of what you can visit.

Museums

Pietà Rondanini-Michelangelo Museum which takes its name from the great Tuscan sculptor who in the years of the construction of the castle gave life to works such as La Pietà.

Sforzesco Castle - first floor of the Milan Cathedral

Museum of Ancient Art, which houses works ranging from the fifth century to the Renaissance. The museum of wooden sculptures, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Egyptian Archaeological Museum, Sala delle Asse - Leonardo Da Vinci, the picture gallery, the art library, the archaeological and numismatic library and numerous other collections, rooms full of art and history.

Milano

Milano world capital of fashion, seat of the "stock exchange" and Italian capital of nightlife. Also famous for its Cathedral, it has very ancient origins, and a fundamental role for the economy of the whole nation. If you have never been to Milan you must necessarily recover.

The Sforzesco Castle in Milan, more than 700 years of history last edit: 2020-01-02T10:45:18+01:00 da Fat Dahlia

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