Sforza Palace. Milan Kremlin - Sforza castle. Unification of Italian lands

About the castle

Castello Sforzesco is geographically located in the village of Vigevano, a suburb of Milan. The castle was built as the residence of the Dukes of the Sforza dynasty in Milan.

This castle is one of the most famous places not only in Italy, but also far beyond its borders. The history of the Sforza Castle is full of dramatic events, just like the history of the places where it is located. In fact, Castello Sforzesco is a historical symbol of power in the hands of princes. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, the castle began to play a special role in the cultural heritage of Italy.

The castle got its name in honor of Francesco Sforza. It was thanks to his efforts that in 1450 the Sforza Castle became the residence of the dukes. However, by that time, Castello Sforzesco had already been erected. The beginning of its construction dates back to the second half of the 13th century, during the reign of Galeazzo II.

Many visitors note the outward resemblance of the Sforza Castle to the Moscow Kremlin. The point here is that the Milanese architects, who carried out design work during the construction of the Kremlin, took as a basis the appearance of Castello Sforzesco. The similarity can be traced especially clearly in the shape of the towers and the “crown” edging on the walls. The central structure of the castle - the Filarete Tower - was designed by the architect Antonio Filarete. In parallel with the construction work, the castle came to life, thanks to the filling with decorative and interior elements. It took quite a bit of time, and Castello Sforzesco became the most luxurious castle in Northern Italy. The most striking periods in the design of the castle were noted during the reign of Louis il Moro, when famous personalities of the era - Leonardo and Bramante - were involved in the work.

Castello Sforzesco, in all its appearance, is full of grandeur and triumph. The main architectural style is Gothic. The central element of the facade of the castle is the Filarete tower, on both sides of which there are two cylindrical battlements. The walls of the towers are decorated with shields with the Visconti and Sforza family coats of arms. The sides and rear facade of the castle are decorated in the same style. Most of the walls, made of baked bricks, are occupied by windows with large brick cornices. Two side towers - Falconiera and Castellana (del Tesoro), are made in the form of square pillars. To the right, from the central part, over a wide moat, there is a bridge that connects the buildings of the castle with the loggias, where the rooms of Louis il Moreau were located.

Historical reference

During its existence, the castle has undergone several restorations. So it happened after in 1447, tired of the constant repression and tyranny of the ruler of Visconti, the people of Milan took up arms against the militant ruler, and created the Protestant Ambrosian Republic. It was decided to overthrow the Visconti and destroy the Sforza castle. Most of the buildings of Castello Sforzesco were completely destroyed. The stones that the invaders collected from the ruins of the castle were used to rebuild the old city walls of Milan.

When Francesco Sforza came to power, he decided not only to restore the castle, but also to make it the main attraction of the city, as well as a symbol of Milan's protection from possible external enemies. To implement his plans, Francesco Sforza called together the best architects and engineers: Giovanni da Milano, Jacopo da Cortona and Marcoleone da Nogarolo.

Francesco Sforza ordered that, ultimately, his luxurious residence had nothing to do with the old fortress built during the reign of Filippo Maria Visconti.

To complete the construction of the castle, Francesco Sforza even asked the Pope for permission to demolish the old church ("Chiesa del Carmine"), which was located in the area where the castle was built. However, when, in 1452, the residence of Sforza was completed, the castle did not become a permanent residence for the crowned persons. In one of the cylindrical towers lived archers who guarded the peace of the castle, and some of the unfortunate, imprisoned in the dungeons of the tower, continued to be imprisoned. In those years, it was decided to build a high wall around the castle, which would protect the inhabitants from the invasions of wild animals that came from the vicinity of Varese, Seprio and Lake Como. Later, Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria never moved to the castle. In Milan, they preferred to live in the old palace of Arengo, visiting the Sforza during ceremonial receptions.

Chapel
Also, on the territory of the Sforza castle, in 1473, a chapel was erected - Corte Ducale. The chapel is decorated with frescoes - the creation of the hands of such famous artists as Bonifacio Bembo, Giacomino Wismara and Stefano Fedeli, whose names are mentioned in some documents that are still stored in the archives. The refined and luxurious chapel of Corte Ducale received within its walls the most famous choristers who came to services from different countries.

The restoration of the Castello Sforzesco castle, as a historical value, began in 1833 under the leadership of the Milanese architect Luca Beltrami. The architect proposed a kind of "philological" restoration based on information from graphic and literary sources stored in the archives.

During major historical exhibitions, various fees were organized for the restoration of the castle. As a result, more than 4,000,000 lire were collected. Reconstruction was carried out from 1895 to 1897.

In May 1900, museums of art and archeology were opened on the castle grounds. It was then that visiting the castle became available to everyone. However, during the bombing in August 1943, the buildings of the castle were seriously damaged. Later, the Sforza Castle was reconstructed again and today, when the Castello Sforzesco is completely restored, it is one of the most interesting and entertaining centers of art in Milan.

Nowadays

Currently, several museums are based in the castle: the museum of ancient Egypt, the prehistoric museum, the museum of dishes and musical instruments, as well as museums of other subjects.

The interest of art connoisseurs is attracted by the works of famous artists: Correggio and Pontormo, Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi.

Presented, as well, "Pieta Rondanini" - an unfinished sculpture - the last of the works of Michelangelo.

Information for tourists

Museum
Working mode:
from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 17.30 (the box office is open until 17.00).
The museum is closed: December 25, January 1, May 1, on Easter Day.

Excursion cost:
Cost for adults: €3
The cost of a reduced ticket (for municipal employees, students, for persons over 65 years old) - € 1.5
Free admission for children under 18.

The Sforza Castle or Castello Sforzesco is one of the main symbols of the history of Milan. The castle was built in the fifteenth century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remains of a previous fortification dating back to the fourteenth century, known as the 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 more likely that the Kremlin 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 turned 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

Milan is home to the Sforza Castle, whose dramatic centuries-old history is connected with ups and downs, destruction and restoration. Thanks to the efforts of Italian restorers and architects today, anyone who wishes has the opportunity to admire the ancient towers and fortress walls, walk around the castle.

How it all began

Like many other Castello Sforzesco, as the Italians themselves call this castle, it stands on the site of quite ancient buildings. The very first one was erected here in the 14th century by the Visconti family, who managed to take power in Milan into their own hands for a long time, and later to subjugate most of the nearby cities.

Gian Galeazzo I Visconti managed not only to extend his influence to such cities of central Italy as Siena and Pisa, but also to buy a ducal title for himself and his own heirs. His descendants failed to annex new lands to the Duchy of Milan. As a result of many military conflicts with Venice at the beginning of the 15th century, Milan, a city-state, lost many conquered territories.

After the death in 1447 of the last representative of the Visconti family - Duke Filippo Maria - the rebellious inhabitants of the city proclaimed the Ambrosian Republic and dismantled the castle of the hated rulers.

Construction stages

But the further affairs of this republic went rather badly, and as a result of the hostilities of the Venetians, Milan lost a significant part of its territories. The inhabitants of the city began to look for a strong leader and invited the military mercenary Francesco Sforza, who had previously served with the Visconti and became related to this family. In 1450, the senate of Milan presented him with the title of duke. In the same year, Francesco Sforza began to build his Milanese castle, conceived as an exquisite and luxurious ducal residence, but also as a powerful defensive structure. To implement this plan, such well-known architects of that time as Antonio Filarete, Bartolomeo Gadio, Marcoleone da Nogarolo, Jacopo da Cortona and many others were invited. Under the leadership of the first of them, the central tower was erected, but Bartolomeo Gadio was responsible for the construction of massive protective walls and four corner defensive towers.

In 1446, Francesco Sforza died, and his eldest son, Galeazzo Maria (Galeazzo Maria Sforza), became the ruler of Milan. Under him, the Sforza castle continues to develop, and the new duke sends architects and craftsmen from Florence to Milan to carry out construction work. After the murder of Galeazzo in 1467, his wife Bona of Savoy, in an effort to protect herself, builds Bona's tall tower at that time - Torre di Bona in Rochetta - the most protected part of the castle.

The era of the Italian wars

Lodovico Maria Sforza, who came to power in 1494, continues to rebuild the Sforza Castle in Milan and invites the best Italian masters for this - Bramante, who became the author of many architectural and decorative elements, and Leonardo da Vinci, who worked on defensive structures and created a series of frescoes.

In 1500, during one of the Italian wars between the Empire and France, the troops of King Louis XII entered Milan and captured Lodovico Sforza. He was taken to France, where he died.

Sforza Castle was seriously damaged in 1521, when lightning struck the central tower of Filarete, used at that time as an ammunition depot.

spanish time

The Spaniards, who owned Milan in the middle of the 16th century, significantly modernized the castle. They built new modern fortifications in the form of a six-pointed star around the old walls, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich was approximately 26 hectares. The city governor moved to the Royal Palace, and a military garrison settled in the castle. After the crushing defeat of the king's troops at Pavia, thanks to the support of the emperor and the Spanish king Charles V, the Sforza family returns to power. Francesco II becomes Duke of Milan.

Austrian domination

After the death of Francesco II Maria Sforza in 1534, the Habsburgs annexed the Duchy of Milan and appointed a governor to govern it. During the reign of the Austrians, Sforza Castle was used as an armory and a soldier's barracks. Some of the buildings on its territory were restored or rebuilt. The most visible trace of the Habsburg period is the statue of John of Nepomuk placed on the bridgehead.

Napoleonic time

After Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy in 1796, Austria, having concluded a peace agreement at Campo Formio, had to abandon Lombardy. General Bonaparte chose Milan as his city of residence for five whole years: from 1796 to 1801. Despite the petitions of the townspeople who demanded the complete demolition of the castle, Napoleon orders that it be held in it Until the defeat of the French troops in 1814, Milan will be the capital of various states created in Italy by Napoleon.

According to the results of the all-European conference in Vienna, the city again went into Austrian possession and became the center of the new Lombardo-Venetian kingdom. In 1848, during the Five Milan Days, when the rebels fought for independence from the Austrian invaders, the cannons of the Sforza castle hit Milan. The uprising was crushed, and all its participants were arrested and imprisoned.

In 1859, the Austrians left Lombardy, and the locals captured and plundered the castle, after which it fell into disrepair.

Modern history

Many residents of Milan at the end of the 19th century demanded that this castle in Italy be destroyed, wiped off the face of the earth and erected in its place something more useful, such as an elite residential area. Fortunately, they decided not to demolish the fortress, but, on the contrary, to restore it. The restoration of the castle in 1893 was started by the architect Luca Beltrami, who sought to recreate the historical appearance of the buildings during the reign of Sforza. In 1905, the restored Filarete Tower was opened, and on the other side of the castle, the Sempione Park was laid.

During the bombings of World War II, many architectural monuments were damaged, including Castello Sforzesco, especially Rochetta. By the end of the 50s of the last century, the castle was restored and opened to the public.

The last change in the appearance of the fortress was a large fountain in its inner square, nicknamed the “Wedding Cake” by the Milanese and built to replace the old one, demolished during the construction of the subway in the 60s of the XX century.

Architecture

The modern Sforza Castle is a square-shaped building, in the center of which is Piazza delle Armi. It is surrounded by massive walls, and the central gate is built in the form of a square multi-tiered tower - Filaret, which at one time served as the prototype of the Spasskaya Tower in the Moscow Kremlin. To the right and left of it are the corner round towers - di Santo Spirito and dei Carmini.

Passing through the main entrance to the Filarete tower, we get to Piazza delle Armi and can see the tower, located on the site of the Porta Giovia gate. To the right of it are the ducal chambers, and to the left - the most fortified part of the castle - Rochetta. It has its own small courtyard, as well as two rather high towers: Torre Castellana (Castle) and Bona of Savoy tower. On the ground floor of the Torre Castellana is a treasury where you can see the surviving frescoes of Bramantino.

Inside the ducal apartments, a small area is allocated, surrounded by a portico, known today as the "Portico of the Elephant" (Portico dell'Elefante), so named because of the fresco depicting this animal.

Castle museums

Arriving at the vintage on the map, which you would like to visit, you can explore endlessly.

But you should opt for the Sforza Castle: this is also the place where many museums are concentrated. Among them are an art gallery, the Museum of Ancient Art, a collection of musical instruments, a collection of medieval tapestries and many other exhibitions. Having entered the castle for free, you can buy a single ticket to visit all the museums or separately for each exhibition you are interested in.

Sforza Castle and Sempione Park are the pride of the Milanese and one of the symbols of this ancient and beautiful city. This huge and seemingly nondescript castle has experienced many historical events in its long history - wars and destruction, riots and revolutions ...

Truly majestic, beautiful and strict, sforza castle, or Castello Sforzesco, is located in the historical center of the modern city. But at the time when they began to lay it, the location of the castle was outside the city walls, and it was created as a defensive Milanese fortress.

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, who 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 heirs, 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 moves here from the city palace with his wife Bona of Savoy.

During the reign of Duke Lodovico Moro, brother of Galeazzo (late 70s - 90s of the XV century), Sforza Castle became one of the most beautiful and richest ducal courts in Italy.

With the outbreak of the Italian Wars, Lodovico Sforza fled from Milan, and the French king Louis XII settled in Sforza Castle. Under his successor, Francis, the castle fell into disrepair; in 1521, a powder warehouse in the Filarete tower exploded from a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled.

The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga, having begun 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 built in the palace chambers.

During the period of Spanish rule, Sforza Castle, which continued to play the role of a defensive fortress, was surrounded by additional fortifications and massive ramparts. Drawings and literary sources of that time indicate that a hospital, a tavern, storage facilities for ice and foodstuffs, and two military churches were also located here. The halls, painted by Leonardo and Bramantino, were turned 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, contrary to these requirements, decided to restore the old part of the castle-fortress to accommodate his troops. And the castle again housed troops - now Napoleonic. Under Napoleon, numerous ramparts and fortifications built by the Spaniards were demolished. But only a part of the territory was equipped, turned into a vast square.

During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again captured by the French, who were briefly forced 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 must share the fate of the Bastille as a symbol of the detested autocracy. Instead of destroying the castle, Napoleon ordered to lay out a spacious square in front of it. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of Castello in a romantic spirit was carried out, which included 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 it was only after the creation of a single independent Italian state in 1861 that they began to really start it. The castle at that time was not only included in the list of monuments subject to priority reconstruction, but was also recognized as one of the main symbols of the city.

The reconstruction was carried out according to the project proposed by the Milanese architect Luca Beltrami and based on a detailed study of all historical documents, literary sources and works of fine art related to the creation of the fortress-palace for all six centuries of its existence.

Work in the palace began with the restoration of the corner cylindrical towers of the front side of the palace. By the way, these towers were later equipped with drinking water storage facilities - thus, it was possible to combine the problem of restoring historical values ​​with solving the problems of life support and cultural life of the city.

For the first visits, the partially restored palace opened in May 1900, and its complete reconstruction was completed in 1905 - it was then that the restoration of the Filaret Tower was completed. Then the palace was transferred to Milan and the Milanese.

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), so the Sforza castle is a kind of prototype of the Kremlin)

Next to the palace is the beautiful Sempione Park, created in 1893, the largest public park in Milan. In the far part of this park, you can get acquainted with an interesting architectural monument of the early 19th century - the granite Arch of Peace. Earlier in this article it was already said that the construction of this arch (and it was conceived as the Arc de Triomphe) was started at the direction of Napoleon in 1807 in honor of the victories of his troops on the Apennine Peninsula. The arch was supposed to become at the same time the informal 14th gate of Milan, the opening of which is oriented along the Paris-Milan axis. Through them, the emperor of France intended to solemnly enter the city after the completion of the construction of the arch. However, construction did not progress too quickly. By 1815, i.e. by the time Napoleon's power came to an end after his defeat at Waterloo, the building project was only two-thirds complete. The opening of the arch took place only in 1838 - at that time Milan was again under the yoke of the Austrian Empire, and the arch was renamed the Arch of Peace (in memory of the peace established in Europe in 1815 after the fall of Napoleon's empire). The Austrian emperor Ferdinand I opened the arch. The arch is luxuriously decorated in neoclassical style. Among the scenery are scenes that illustrate or symbolize the events in which Napoleon was a contemporary and participant. The arch, if you look through it towards the center of Milan, is, as it were, a natural frame for the Filaret Tower of the Sforza Palace.

The symbol and pride of this beautiful and ancient city. The huge and seemingly nondescript fortress has experienced many upheavals during its centuries-old and eventful history. However, in spite of everything, she survived and now pleases numerous visitors with her strict and majestic beauty.

Construction

The Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) is located in the historic center of the city. But at the time of laying the place of its location was outside the city camps, because initially it was created as a defensive fortress. The decision to build the castle was made by Duke Galeazzo II Visconti, who belonged to the famous ancient Visconti dynasty, which ruled Milan for more than a century and a half, starting in 1277.

By the middle of the XIV century, the once influential nobleman began to rapidly lose his political weight, as a result of which the Ambrosian Republic was established in the city. At this time, the castle was inflicted with great damage when it was partially destroyed by the inhabitants of Milan, tired of the exorbitant tyranny of the duke.

New owner

The fortress was empty for a long time. Finally, in 1450, Francesco Sforza, a descendant of the Duke of Visconti, received the title of his ancestors and received permission from the Milanese Senate to restore the former family residence. According to the idea of ​​the new owner, the bastion was to not only regain the function of a defensive fortress, but also become a symbol of the city.

Gradually, the Sforza Castle in Milan changed. The fortress walls acquired high towers in the corners, and in 1473 a chapel called “Corte Dukkale” was erected here. At the end of the 15th century, the Duke's heir Lodovico Sforza decided to remake the gloomy castle to his liking, adding a little splendor and grace to its appearance.

For this purpose, the best masters of their time were called to Milan, among which was the famous Lonardo da Vinci. It is known that it was here that his ingenious canvases were created, such as “Lady with an Ermine”, which depicted the mistress of Duke Cecilia Gallerani, as well as “Beautiful Ferroniera”, for which Lucrezia Crivelli posed. There were also luxurious ceiling frescoes made by da Vinci, but, unfortunately, almost nothing remained of them.

Along with the magnificent interiors of the castle, some of which have survived to this day, a number of other innovations appeared in it. Several cozy courtyards were arranged here, as well as an elegant square, framed by arcades, on which Filarete and Bramante worked. Since that time, the castle again becomes the residence of the Milanese dukes.

French and Spanish periods

When the Italian wars began, Lodovico Sforzo chose to leave Milan, and instead King Louis XII of France moved into Sforza Castle. After his death, the fortress fell into disrepair, and in 1521 the Filarete tower, where the powder warehouse was located, was struck by lightning. The explosion destroyed most of the building, so it had to be dismantled.

For some time, Ferrante Gonzaga, the Spanish governor, also lived in the castle. He decided to strengthen the defensive power of the city, for which he literally built it into the center of new fortifications, made in the shape of a star. Under him, most of the palace chambers turned into real barracks, where more than 2 thousand soldiers lived.

Sforza Castle in Milan during the Spanish rule was a reliable fortress, the defense of which was supplemented by massive ramparts and other fortifications. According to the surviving documents, in addition to the soldiers' barracks, a military church, a hospital, warehouses with food products and a tavern were located on its territory. The halls with luxurious murals, on which Bramantino and Leonardo worked, were simply turned into ordinary utility rooms.

Patronage of Napoleon

Spanish rule was replaced by the French. Napoleon settled in the city. Radical Milanese demanded from him the destruction of the Sforza castle, so hated by them. However, contrary to their statements, Napoleon decided not only not to destroy, but, on the contrary, to restore part of the fortress in order to place his soldiers in it.

Under him, almost all the fortifications previously erected by the Spaniards, including numerous ramparts, were demolished. In addition, by order of Napoleon himself, a spacious square was laid out in front of the castle.

Reconstruction

In 1861, after the unification of the Italian state, it was decided to restore the fortress and give it the status of an architectural symbol of Milan. Luca Beltrami was invited to carry out the restoration work. It should be noted that this talented architect treated this matter extremely responsibly. It was thanks to him that the previously blown up and then completely dismantled Filarete tower was fully restored.

In 1900, this historical monument first opened its doors to the public and took pride of place as the main attraction of Milan. Five years later, the repair of the fortress was completely completed.

World War II

During the war, the castle was again destroyed. Aerial bombs destroyed part of the wall and one of the cozy courtyards. After the war, for the umpteenth time, this historical monument had to be restored. Large-scale repair work was underway here, during which a thorough restoration of both the internal interiors and the external appearance of the building was carried out.

Modern look

To get into the courtyard of the Sforza castle (photo can be seen below), you need to pass the central gate located in the Filarete tower. It is a multi-tiered majestic building 70 meters high. The tower is adorned with an elaborate bas-relief depicting King Umberto, an antique clock called the Sun of Justice, and heraldic frescoes. Once there was a desert area around the castle, which was used for military exercises. Now the beautiful Sempione Park and Piazza delle Armi are located here.

Now inside the Sforza Castle in Milan (photo available in the article) there is an extensive museum complex and a solid library, within the walls of which truly unique materials are stored that tell about the centuries-old history of this amazing city.

At the moment, everyone has the opportunity to visit the castle and visit its art gallery and numerous museums, where wooden sculptures, rare ancient musical instruments, antique furniture and archaeological finds are presented. In addition, this historical complex houses the works of such famous masters as Michelangelo Buonarotti, Giovanni Bellini and Mantegna.

Helpful information

Address of the Sforza Castle in Milan: Piazza Castello, 27029. At first, the fortress may seem impregnable and rather gloomy. But, having personally visited this unique place, once again you are convinced of the extraordinary beauty of its interior decorations.
Tourists who go on vacation to Italy for the first time often do not know how to get to the Sforza Castle in Milan. In fact, everything is extremely simple here: you can walk to it from one of the central streets of the city - Via Dante. If you get to the place by public transport, then you can get there both by bus (routes No. 18, 37, 58, 94) and by tram (No. 1, 4, 12, 14). If you wish, you can also get to the fortress by metro (MM1 and MM2 branches), getting off at the Cadorna Triennale station.

The opening hours of the Sforza Castle in Milan are from 7:00 to 18:00, and in the summer - until 19:00. Day off - Monday. Museums are also closed during major church holidays. Entrance to its territory is free. However, you will have to pay 4 euros for visiting museums. For a more detailed view of this attraction, you can buy a season pass. It will cost 15 euros per person.

It is worth noting that for pensioners who are 65 years old and students, upon presentation of the relevant document, a good discount is provided. For them, the ticket will cost no more than 1.5 euros. Children and teenagers under 18 years of age enter the castle grounds free of charge.