Fortress milan italy. Sforzes Castle (Castello Sforzesco). Park opening hours

The Sforzesco Castle (or Sforzesco) is one of the most famous landmarks of Milan and a true symbol of the city. The building has existed for seven centuries. It bears the name of Duke Francesco Sforza, whose residence it served. Nowadays the castle is architectural complex V historical center with a large garden and several museums located on its territory.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci himself was engaged in decorating the Sforzesco Castle.

Over the seven centuries of the castle’s existence, several famous sculptors, architects and artists managed to work on its external and internal appearance. Around it lies Piazza delle Armi, which previously served as a parade ground. Also around the walls of the fortress in 1893, Sempione Park was laid out, which is still considered one of the main parks in Milan. In the Sforza Castle and Sempione Park you can often meet not only tourists traveling around the city, but also local residents who also like to spend their free time here.

Story

This castle was originally built in the 14th century, when the aristocratic Visconti dynasty decided to acquire a residence near Milan (at that time this territory was not part of the city). Despite the fortifications erected around the castle, the Visconti family was attacked during the overthrow of power and was forced to leave their home. The castle itself was half destroyed by the rioting crowd.

After a few years of existence new republic Francesco Sforza, a military leader and the new Duke of Milan, came to power, who made Sforzesco his residence, and under him the dilapidated castle was restored. More reliable defenses were built around Sforzesco, and towers were also erected. It is worth noting that the Duke thought not only about the defensive ability of the castle, but also about its beauty, and we can still see the decoration of the facades remaining from then, made by the famous architect Averumin.

The castle became the residence of the dukes only under Francesco Sforza’s son, Galeazzo. He expanded the castle and brought in the skilled architect Ferrini for the interior decoration. Galeazzo also paid great attention to the interior of his residence, so under him, luxurious expensive furniture, paintings and other objects of art appeared in the castle. The main part of all this beauty can still be seen once inside Castello Sforzesco.

Galeazzo's brother, Ludovico Sforza, continued to work on the improvement of the castle and invited Leonardo da Vinci to carry out the paintings. Some fragments of the great artist’s frescoes have been preserved to this day in very good condition. They are located in the Sala delle Asse. Some manuscripts of his literary works have also been preserved.

In the 16th century During the Italian wars, the castle was abandoned by its owners and fell into disrepair. Sforzesco continued to be raided during the Revolutionary Wars and was significantly damaged. Its restoration was carried out only in 1833, and then the castle acquired many romantic features. However, during the wars in the mid-19th century. Between the Italians and the Austrians, the Sforza Castle was again plundered and remained in disrepair until 1900. This year, a large-scale restoration of the castle was carried out, and to this day it exists in the form that it acquired during the restoration.

Exterior view of Castello Sforzesco and the Moscow Kremlin

Russian tourists visiting the Sforzesco fortress immediately note its external resemblance to the Moscow Kremlin. The main similar features of these two attractions are the shape of the towers and the series of battlements on the fortress walls. The reason for these similarities is this: the main tower of the Sforzesco was designed by Antonio Filarete. This architect at one time worked with another famous Italian master, Aristotle Fioravanti. It was Fioravanti who was the author of the Kremlin project in Moscow.

The Sforzesco Central Tower itself is shaped like a tetrahedron 70 meters high. It is decorated with a bas-relief depicting the Italian king Umberto I. Also on the first tier of the tower there are frescoes with images of coats of arms and a portrait of St. Ambrose. On the second tier there is a clock called the “Sun of Justice”, which has remained here since the time of the Visconti dynasty. The tower houses the main gate of the Castello Sforzesco, through which you can enter the courtyard.

Museums of the Sforzesco Castle

Nowadays, Castello Sforzesco is a very important place from a cultural point of view, not only because of its historical role, but also because it now houses several museums. First of all, it is worth mentioning the magnificent art gallery of the castle, where works of famous Italian artists from different eras are exhibited. Sforzesco also houses the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Medieval Art (household objects and art from the 13th to 15th centuries are on display) and the Reunification Museum.

Of particular note is the unfinished Pieta Rondanini sculpture by Michelangelo.

Among the other most interesting exhibits of the Sforza Castle are a hall dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci, a huge collection of musical instruments, and the tombstone of Duke Visconti. Individual rooms are also of great interest to tourists: here you can see the ballroom and the room from the Roccabianca Castle. The frescoes in this room depict the heroine of Boccaccio's Decameron, an iconic image of its time.

Additional Information

Castello Sforzesco is open to the public every day. Exceptions are January 1, May 1 and December 25. IN summer time You can get here from 7:00 to 19:00, in winter this time is reduced by an hour - the entrance is open until 18:00. Visiting the fortress territory is free.

If you want to explore not only the castle grounds, but also the museums located in it, you will need to purchase single ticket. The price of a single ticket is 3 euros, and a ticket for the whole season will cost 15 euros. There is a system of discounts for children and preferential categories. The Sforzesco Museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday, opening hours: 9:00–17:30. They are closed to the public on major holidays, such as Christmas.

How to get to Sforza Castle

Sforza is located near the center of Milan, in the Porta Umberto area, so getting here by public transport is easy. Near the castle there are metro stations Cadorna - Cairoli (line M1) and Cadorna - Lanza (line M2). There is also a stop here public transport Cadorna. Bus routes 18, 37, 50, 58, 61 and 94 go to it. Trams number 1, 2, 4, 12, 14 and 19 also go to the castle.

If you want to get to Costello Sforzesco with the greatest comfort, use taxi services such as Uber or Yellow Taxi.

Sforza Castle on Google panoramas:

Sforza Castle on video:

The 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 inconspicuous castle for its centuries-old history experienced many historical events - wars and destruction, riots and revolutions...

Truly majestic, beautiful and strict, Sforza Castle, or Castello Sforzesco, is located in the historical center 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 begin construction of the 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. 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 as 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 move 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 rich 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 Filaret tower exploded due to a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled.

The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga, having begun to strengthen the city, built the Sforzesco 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 time of Napoleon, the ducal power fell again, and some Milanese professing extreme views demanded the destruction of the Sforza Palace. Napoleon, contrary to these demands, decided to restore the old part of the castle-fortress to house his troops. And the troops were again stationed in the castle - this time Napoleonic ones. Under Napoleon, numerous ramparts and fortifications built by the Spaniards were demolished. But only part of the territory was developed, turned into a vast public garden.

During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again captured 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 presented Napoleon with a petition stating that Castello Sforzesco must share the fate of the Bastille as a symbol of the autocracy they hate. Instead of destroying the castle, Napoleon ordered a spacious square to be built in front of it. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of the Castello was carried out in a romantic spirit, which included the restoration of such medieval features as the moat around the castle.

Restoration of the palace began in the middle of the 19th century. But it was really started only after the creation of a single independent Italian state in 1861. At this time, the castle 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 a project proposed by the Milanese architect Luca Beltrami and based on a detailed study of all historical documents, literary sources and works visual arts, associated with the creation of the fortress-palace over all six centuries of its existence.

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

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

The appearance of the Sforzesco 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 battlements crowning the walls), so the Sforzesco castle is a kind of prototype of the Kremlin)

Next to the palace is the beautiful Sempione Park, created in 1893, the largest in Milan public park. 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 arch. However, construction did not progress very quickly. By 1815, i.e. By the time Napoleon's power came to an end following his defeat at Waterloo, the construction project was only two-thirds completed. 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 arch was opened by the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I. The arch is luxuriously decorated in the neoclassical style. Among the decorations are scenes that illustrate or symbolize events in which Napoleon was a contemporary and participant. The arch, if you look through it towards the center of Milan, is like a natural frame of the Filaret Tower of the Sforza Palace.

Initially, the Sforza Castle was built by Duke Galeazzo Visconti, a representative of a powerful dynasty that ruled for more than a hundred years. The fortress appeared in the first half of the 14th century, but by the middle of this century the duke had lost his influence, an uprising occurred in the city, and with the beginning of the Ambrosian Republic, the ducal possessions were destroyed by crowds of townspeople.

However, the republic did not last long, and in 1450 Francesco Sforza came to power and began restoring the fortress. He completely rebuilt the family residence, making it even more impregnable, erected reliable fortress walls and high towers, including the famous Filarete Tower. His son Galeazzo continued his father’s work and invited the famous architect Benedetto Ferrini to reconstruct the castle, who built two courtyards.

The next owner, Ludovico Sforza, decided that the building lacked elegance and invited the best Italian craftsmen to decorate it. It was then that frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci appeared here, which, unfortunately, have practically not survived to this day. But this was the end of the period of prosperity of Castello Sforzesco. With the outbreak of the Italian Wars, the Duke went into exile, and Louis XII moved into Sforza Castle.

Both the French king and the Spanish governor who replaced him in this territory required not an elegant secular palace, but a military fortification, so the ballrooms quickly turned into barracks for soldiers. At this time, the Filarete tower was turned into a gunpowder warehouse, and an accidental lightning strike in 1521 provoked a powerful explosion. As a result, the tower was almost completely destroyed.

When the French returned to the city under the leadership of Napoleon, some of the Milanese submitted a petition to the emperor to destroy the Sforza Castle, as a reminder of the ducal rule. Fortunately, Napoleon decided differently - he did not destroy the fortress, but, on the contrary, partially restored it and laid out a beautiful square in front of the entrance. However, a significant part of Castello Sforzesco was still used as a barracks.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the castle was occupied by the Austrians, and for the next few years it was either strengthened or, on the contrary, suffered destruction during the confrontation between Milan and the Austrian army. The year 1859 turned out to be particularly destructive, when the Austrians abandoned the city and the fortress was plundered.

A new round in the history of Castello Sforzesco began with the unification in 1861. It was recognized as an architectural monument and was actively restored as such. Thus, the corner towers of the fortress wall were rebuilt, and in 1900, according to the surviving descriptions, the Filarete Tower was restored. A huge role in recreating the former appearance of the Sforza Castle was played by the architect Luca Beltrami, who led the process, relying on historical documents. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Castello Sforzesco was opened to the public as a tourist attraction.

Restoration after WWII

With the outbreak of World War II, another difficult period began in the history of the Sforza Castle - in 1943, as a result of bombing, one of the courtyards was damaged, and part of the fortress walls was destroyed. After the end of hostilities, the architectural monument began to be restored, but the process turned out to be long and lasted until 1956. It was important not only to rebuild the walls, but also to recreate the interior decoration with historical accuracy and restore damaged frescoes. However, the Milanese coped with this task - the Sforza Castle once again regained its beauty and grandeur.

Castle today

Today, the grandiose Castello Sforzesco looks as luxurious as in the ancient times of its heyday. The former moat may have long been overgrown with grass, but the four corner towers still protrude powerfully from the walls. The entrance tower of Filarete has also been completely restored, at the top of which the castle clock “Sun of Justice” chimes time - it is installed here in memory of the first owner, Duke Visconti.

After passing through the arched doorway of the tower, you can get to the internal square of the Sforza Castle - Piazza delle Armi (Piazza del Armi). From here, through another fortress gate, there is a path deeper into the castle buildings, to two courtyards: Corte Ducale will be on the right, and Rochetta on the left. During times of uprisings and wars, Rochetta's courtyard was the safest corner of the fortress. As for Corte Ducale, it also bears the name of the Ducal Courtyard, since this is where the Duke’s rooms were once located.

Museums of the Sforzesco Castle

Today, there are several museums inside the towers and other buildings of Castello Sforzesco. There is an Archaeological Museum with a collection of exhibits from prehistoric times, an Egyptian Museum with real mummies, and a Museum of Antique Furniture. IN art gallery there are paintings by Italian artists of the Renaissance and Rococo eras: Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni Tiepolo and Giovanni Canal (Canaletto), the famous Titian Vecellio and others.

Among the most striking exhibits of the castle are two tombstones made by Italian sculptors of the 14th and 16th centuries, Bonino di Campione and Agostino Busti. Here is also the last work of the great Michelangelo - the unfinished Pieta Rondanini, a statue of the Virgin Mary with the body of Christ in her arms. The master worked on it 6 days before his death, but never finished it.

In the hall delle Asse, located in the Falconieri tower, you can see traces of the work of another Italian genius - frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci have been preserved here. The decoration of this room represents one of two works by Leonardo for the Sforzesco Castle that have survived to this day (the other is the garden pergola). This tower overlooks the Corte Ducale courtyard, and in the buildings of another Rochetta courtyard there is a museum of applied arts and musical instruments. They store exhibits dating back to the Middle Ages.

Underground tunnels

As befits a real ancient fortress, Sforza Castle has a developed network of underground passages. It is known that a significant part of them was built at the time when Ludovico Sforza lived here - the Duke wanted to be able to leave his residence at any time. According to legend, according to one of long tunnels it was possible to go beyond the fortress walls and reach the monastery of Santa Maria della Grazia. Whether this is true or not is now impossible to verify, since the tunnel is destroyed.

The underground network was then expanded by the Spanish invaders. When converting the castle into a military garrison, they paid great attention to secret passages from the fortress, restored old corridors and created new ones. Some of the dungeons are well preserved, and today one of the tunnels is open to visitors - this is Strada Coperta delle Ghirlanda. It runs around the fortress under Sempione Park.

How to get there

Sforzesco Castle is located almost in the center of the city - even without a map you can walk here in 5-10 minutes from the Milan Duomo Cathedral.

The exact address: Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano

Option 1

Metro: Take line MM1 or MM2 to Cadorna Triennale station.

Option 2

Bus: routes No. 61, 94, 58, 50 to the “Cadorna” stop.

Option 3

Bus: routes No. 57 to the Lanza stop.

Option 4

Tram: routes No. 1 and 4 to the stop "Cairoli".

Option 5

Tram: routes No. 2, 12 and 14 to the “Via Cusani” stop.

Sforza Castle on the map

Attractions around the castle

Sempione Park

If you walk through the entire territory from the castle gate in the Filarete tower, you can get to the nearby Sempione Park. It is very popular with both tourists and Milanese residents, who often come here for a walk or a picnic on the grass. This park was founded back in 1893, and since then it has been favorite place for a holiday with the Milanese.

Peace Arch

The main attraction of Sempione Park is the Arch of Peace, installed at the beginning of the 19th century by Napoleon. This majestic structure was founded in 1807, when, inspired by the victory on the Apennine Peninsula, the emperor decided to build something similar to the Parisian one in Milan. Arc de Triomphe. By the way, it is believed that the Peace Arch is located on the same straight line as its French sister.

Initially, Napoleon planned to make this new building the secret gate of Milan and solemnly enter the city through it. But these plans were not destined to come true - construction had to be frozen after the French left Italy. However, the arch at the Sforzesco Castle was still completed and is now another point of attraction for tourists and popular place for photo.

The first architect to design the arch was Luigi Cagnona, but he did not live to see the construction completed. After Napoleon's departure, work continued only in 1826 under the leadership of Francesco Londio and Francesco Peverelli. The authors of the sculptures on its top were Sangiorgio (Sestiga of the World) and G. Putti (four goddesses of Victoria).

It is interesting that, according to the first project, the arch in the park near the castle was supposed to glorify the victories of Napoleon, but after his fall, adjustments had to be made. And then a second project was developed - an allegorical panel depicting the expulsion of the French. The Peace Arch received its name in honor of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, where the borders of European states destroyed by the conquests of Napoleon were restored.

Fountain in Piazza Castello

The square in front of the Sforza Castle is decorated big fountain, which the Milanese call "Wedding Cake". It really does resemble a cake in its shape, but that's not all - it is believed that the fountain makes romantic wishes come true if you throw a coin into it. Maybe that’s why lovers often take photos here.

This landmark has a complicated history. Appearing in the 30s of the 20th century, the fountain did not work for very long - during the Second World War it had to be turned off. Afterwards it was launched again, but during the construction of the metro line it turned out that this is where the Cairoli station should be located. And again the fountain was turned off and dismantled. Due to improper storage, its parts deteriorated, many of them had to be made anew, but in 2000, the “Wedding Cake” finally graced Piazza Castello again.

Excursions

All year round, thematic exhibitions dedicated to the history of one or another of its attractions open in the Sforza Castle. Among them there are also children's tours for visitors 4-11 years old - they include master classes, creative seminars and an educational program presented in a form understandable for children. Special family events are also held annually to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Halloween and other major holidays.

Every weekend at the Sforza Castle there are excursions to the underground tunnels and the upper galleries of the fortress walls. A walk along the battlements from tower to tower allows you to look at the fortress and its surroundings from above, and also learn military history these places. Dungeons reveal to visitors the secret life of the castle, its hidden passages and traps. However, this tour is only suitable for those who do not suffer from claustrophobia, and in addition, children under 10 years old are not allowed on it.

Numerous excursion bureaus offer, in addition to regular ones, costumed excursions. In these cases, visitors are told about the history of the fortress by Leonardo da Vinci himself or Isabella of Aragon, the wife of one of the Sforza dukes.

Opening hours and entry price

Opening hours:

Fortresses - from 07:00 to 19:30;
Museums - from 09:00 to 17:30.

IN winter time The castle closes to the public an hour earlier. The last visitors to museums are admitted no later than 17:00.

Ticket prices:

Adult - 5 euros ( ~367 rub. );
Preferential - 3 euros ( ~220 rub. ).

You can also take a single ticket for all museums, which costs 12 euros ( ~880 rub. ) and is valid for 3 days.

Access to the castle grounds on weekdays is completely free for everyone. Payment is charged only for visiting museums located inside the fortress. But you can also enter them for free every Tuesday after 14:00 and on any other day an hour before closing.

Before your visit, check the information at.

The Sforzesco Castle has remained for centuries one of the most significant, most important buildings in Milan. Key moments in the history of the city, its defeats and victories are associated with it. Over many years, the fortress died several times and, like a Phoenix, was reborn to life. Today, its strict, harsh beauty recalls its former power and creates a unique atmosphere of the revived past of Italy.

We recommend choosing comfortable shoes and spending the whole day walking around the castle, visiting all its museums. And if you get tired, you can relax on the benches in the shady Sempione Park or complement your excursion with a visit to the Milan Aquarium. It is located on the outskirts of the park and will surprise you with both its elegant facade and the 26 aquariums located inside with sea and river inhabitants.

The history of the Milan castle dates back to the 14th century. True, that option modern traveler won't find it. In him local residents they saw nothing more than a symbol of oppression and a stronghold of the tyranny of the Visconti who ruled at that time, and therefore they dismantled it into pieces. 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 century of prosperity was short-lived. Apparently, the difficult fate of the owners extended to their brainchild. Over the centuries, the fortress was destined to survive a variety of troubles: the indifference of the owners, military operations, lightning strikes, the organization of barracks and much more. Fate turned its face only in the 19th century, when a restoration was carried out that 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 begin construction of the 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. 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 as 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 move 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 rich 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 due to a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled

During the period of 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 of the time indicate that a hospital, a tavern, ice and food storage facilities, and two military churches were also located here. The halls, painted by Leonardo and Bramantino, were converted into utility rooms
During the time of Napoleon, the ducal power fell again, and some Milanese professing extreme views demanded the destruction of the Sforza Palace. Napoleon, contrary to these demands, decided to restore the old part of the castle-fortress to house his troops. And the troops were again stationed in the castle - now Napoleonic. Under Napoleon, numerous ramparts and fortifications built by the Spaniards were demolished. But only part of the territory was developed, turned into a vast public garden.

During the Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again captured 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 presented Napoleon with 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 a spacious square to be built in front of it. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of the Castello was carried out in a romantic spirit, which included the restoration of such medieval features as the moat around the castle
Restoration of the palace began in the middle of the 19th century. But it was really started only after the creation of a single independent Italian state in 1861. At this time, the castle 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

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 true, since the Kremlin was built by Milanese architects, who took the Milan Castle as a model. An interesting architectural detail: all the walls and towers of castles are usually crowned with battlements; they come in two types: square or dovetail-shaped. It turns out there is a reason for this. Castles and fortresses with square-shaped battlements were built by supporters of the Pope, while those with a dovetail shape were built by his opponents. So, already outwardly it was possible to predict who would own this fortification. Therefore, in the Moscow Kremlin, thinking logically, Milanese architects built battlements in the form of a swallowtail.
coat of arms of Milan...

4. The author of the original project is unknown; in all likelihood, construction began in 1368 and the castle experienced its moments of prosperity and decline, and was rebuilt many times. Directly in front of the Castle there is a large fountain, and behind it is the Philaret Tower. This quadrangular tower is 70 meters high. The tower is decorated with several decorative elements....

5. The bas-relief above the gate depicts King Umberto I

6. Directly below the first crenellation stands a statue of Saint Ambrogio between two large coats of arms,

7. Well, above, there is a large tower clock. The clock is the “sun of justice” - a symbol of the Visconti family, who began the construction of this architectural monument...

8. If you walk under the main tower, you find yourself in a large square - Piazza d'Armi - they used to play the role of a military parade ground for the training of soldiers who guarded the castle.

9. Museum and Library buildings are built into the walls along the perimeter of the square; the square is also decorated with many decorative elements, columns, remains of sculptures, and 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 Philaret Tower in 1729, a monument to the famous Czech saint, John of Nepomuk (in Italian he sounds like San Giovanni Nepomuceno) was erected.

13. Through the gate with the large coat of arms of the Sforza family you can enter the Ducal Court, where the buildings of the Castello museums are located, and then details of the castle...

14. a drinking water pump in the castle courtyard...

15.These cats were seen in the yard, wandering peacefully here and there, but the most interesting thing is the bird that is between them - it feels quite comfortable)))

16. Perhaps such contact with eternity is more... digestible)

19. The castle was once simply huge, but now some elements of the 16th century castle have been preserved outside 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 dukes became private citizens.”
Nicolo Machiavelli, "The Prince"

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. The castle was rebuilt many times, 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 House of Visconti, who managed to get it from the hands of their enemies - the House of Della Torre. Thanks to the wise policy of the House of Visconti, in particular Matteo I, it was under his control 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, and controlled one of the cantons of what is now Switzerland.

Giovanni Visconti died in 1354. His nephews Matteo II, Galeazzo II and Bernabo inherited all 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 was to be ruled by each brother in turn.

Il progetto dell"Antolini (lato Milano)
At that time Milan was a powerful city with developed infrastructure: the city was surrounded by protective walls and gates, bridges and markets were built, the city streets were paved and provided with sewerage.

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 business was continued by Galeazzo's son, Gian-Galeazzo. He built a small building that served as a barracks for mercenaries.

1958 The plan for the construction of the castle from the time of Visconti Gian during his reign (1378-1402) centralized the management of the duchy, created conditions for the development of arts, industry and trade. It was under him that the famous Milanese building began to be built. 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 next to 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 it from several attacks by 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 the castle he himself once destroyed. According to his plan new fortress should become a symbol of the beauty of the city 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 Antonio Filarete ("Il Filarete"), was commissioned to build the central travel tower castle Although the castle was conceived as a luxurious residence for the Duke, Antonio was soon removed from work and the military architect Bartolomeo Gadio took over the matter.

To complete the work, Sforza even asked permission from the Pope to destroy the church that was interfering with construction. However, despite such 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 got the idea to turn the castle into a luxurious residence and commissioned Florentine architects. They added many new elements, including designing stables for 90 horses.

Historians characterize the Sforzas of that time as people who loved to buy luxury things, horses, diamonds, but at the same time slept next to the “chicken coop”. Often they fell asleep in the same hall where there had been a banquet before.

After several years of tireless work, the castle finally turned into a luxurious residence. The Rocchetta courtyard was decorated with a portico, and inside one of the rooms there was a Ballroom (“Sala della Balla”). Here Galeazzo Maria liked 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 the Rochetta in the most protected part of the castle, high tower. From here she could observe all the buildings. Today this tower is known as the "Torre di Bona" (Tower of Bona).

In 1480, power was seized from Galeazzo Maria's young son by his brother, Lodovico Maria, also known as "Il Moro" (The Moor). Galeazzo Maria's initials in all rooms of the castle were replaced by Lodovic's monograms

In 1482, Duke Lodovico invited Leonardo da Vinci to join the Ducal College of Engineers in Milan. The latter decorated the castle with frescoes in the "Sala delle Asse". After a long restoration, the frescoes can still be seen today. During the so-called During the “Italian Wars,” Milan, and with it the Sforza Castle, passed either into the hands of the French, or the Swiss, or into the hands of the troops of the Holy Roman Empire.

On June 23, 1521, the archives report that the castle's Philaret Tower was struck by lightning. 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 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 considered 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; up to 2,000 soldiers could be stationed in it at the same time. All construction costs were borne by the residents of Milan. According to archival sources, the fortress also had: 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, this time 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, and 3,000 quintals of gunpowder to defend the city. At first, the Austrian lieutenant Lamy managed to hold back the townspeople supporting 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 former tyranny be completely destroyed. Fortunately, in April 1799, troops approached Milan under the leadership of A.V. Suvorov (Russia, England and Austria took joint military action against Napoleon’s expansion), the city was besieged and taken by Suvorov’s army. Soon, at the request of the Austrian Emperor, Suvorov had to leave with the army for Switzerland (this was his famous crossing of the Alps).

The ducal chapel was turned into a stable, the duke's rooms became dormitories, and the frescoes were painted over with lime.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the bastions and ramparts of star-shaped fortifications, built under the Austrians, were demolished. The population rejoiced! According to the new project, a huge square appeared around the castle, called Foro Bonaparte. In its center is the Sforza Castle, which was supposed to house the government.

However, after April 1801 the project was shelved and then gradually transformed into the square known today as Piazza delle Armi. After Napoleon's defeat 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 gate in the northwestern part of the castle did several decorative elements appear, depicting generals from the Habsburg dynasty.

During the “Five Days” (Milanese revolt) from March 18 to 22, 1848, the cannons of the Sforza Castle bombarded Milan. All the instigators of the uprising were arrested and imprisoned in the prison cells of the castle.

After the Austrians left Lombardy in 1859, the castle was captured and plundered by the inhabitants of Milan.

After the Italian Reunification (Risorgimento), various projects were proposed to restore the Sforzesco 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, and the walls connecting the castle with the city walls were demolished. Old rooms, frescoes, cornices were restored, and the roof was renewed. There is a museum in the ducal apartments.

Fra Filippo Lippi - Madonna of Humility (Trivulzio Madonna)

The opening of the Sforza Castle to the general public took place in May 1900. The 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 dynastia.

Unfortunately, the Second World War did not spare the castle and in 1943, during the bombing, it was again seriously damaged, especially by Rocchetta.
By 1956, the castle was again restored to the form that any visitor can see today.

Pietro Bussolo "Annunciata" Bassorilievo ligneo, 1480 circa

Egyptian Museum

Museum of Musical Instruments

Furniture Museum

The Milan castle was originally built in the 14th 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 mid-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 battlements crowning the walls). The central tower of the Milan 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 powder warehouse in the Filaret tower exploded due to a lightning strike, after which it was dismantled. The Spanish governor Ferrante Gonzaga, having begun to strengthen the city, built the Sforzesco 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 Revolutionary Wars, Milan was again captured 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 presented Napoleon with 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 a spacious square to be built in front of it. In 1833, a large-scale restoration of the Castello was carried out in a romantic spirit, which included the restoration of such medieval features as the moat around the castle. During the restoration in 1900, the famous Filarete Tower was also recreated.

Nowadays, in the Sforza Castle there is a group of museums (ancient Egypt, prehistoric, musical instruments, dishes and a number of others), for which there is a single entrance ticket (on Friday afternoons admission is free). Almost no trace remains of Leonardo's frescoes in the ducal chambers; The ball game room and the “elephant portico” have survived to this day in much better condition. In the castle you can see Michelangelo's last (unfinished) sculpture, Pieta Rondanini, paintings by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi, Correggio and Pontormo, as well as a curious collection of musical instruments.

The Sforzesco Castle in Milan is one of the most important landmarks in Italy. It has long served as a symbol of power for local and foreign rulers. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the building was saved from demolition. It now houses several civic museums.

History of Sforza

In 1358, Galeazzo Isc Visconti (first Duke of Milan) ordered the construction of a fortress. Construction was completed in 1368. The castle originally had a basic layout: four walls, each one hundred and eighty meters (591 ft) long, and a square tower at each corner. His successors (Gian Galeazzo and Filippo Maria) expanded the fortress and turned it into a luxurious residence. After Filippo Maria Visconti died without an heir in 1447, the Milanese proclaimed the Ambrosian Republic and completely destroyed the building, considered a symbol of the Visconti.

The fledgling republic, at war with Venice, turned to the famous military leader Francesco Sforza for help. Just three years later, he seized power and declared himself Duke of Milan. Sforza quickly rebuilt the castle, but this time a seventy-meter (230 ft) high central tower, the Torre del Filarete, was erected, surrounded by large round turrets. His followers also improved and embellished the structure.

During its heyday under the reign of Ludovico Sforza, nicknamed "Il Moro", the fortress was transformed into a luxurious Renaissance residence. The Duke turned to the great artists of his time, including Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci, to decorate it.

In subsequent centuries, when Milan was under foreign domination, the castle was abandoned and was mainly used as a barracks. Torre del Filareta, which was used as an ammunition storage facility, exploded in 1521. During the second half of the sixteenth century, the Spaniards added star-shaped fortifications around the fortress, which were later partially destroyed by Napoleon's troops.

After the unification of Italy in 1861, the castle was in such poor condition that the city's residents considered demolishing it. Nevertheless, the architect Luca Beltrami saved the dilapidated structure from destruction by proposing to turn it into a public building with premises for several cultural institutions. In 1893, Beltrami began renovations to the monumental castle. He restored damaged towers, recreated the moat, and demolished structures that had been added during foreign rule. He even restored Torre del Filarete using the original plans.

The restored Sforzesco Castle opened to the public in 1900. By the way, it can be confused with the castle of Princess Bona Sforza in Rogachev, but this is a completely different story and territory too.

It is worth noting that the Sforza Castle and the Kremlin are almost twins, and this is especially evident if you compare their photos. It is located around three courtyards, dominated by its many buildings. At each corner there are four imposing towers: two round at the main façade facing the city, and two square at the other end. Round towers(31 m or 102 lbs. in height) are known as Torre di Santi Spirito and Torre del Carmine. In the rear there are two more ordinary towers - Torre Castellana and Torre Falconiera.

The main entrance to the Sforzesco Castle leads through the tallest tower (Torre del Filarete) to Piazza d'Armi - a vast courtyard. Another tower (Torre di Bona di Savoia) is visible from the courtyard.

Behind it is the “heart” of the castle - the palace residences of the Sforza Dukes, surrounding two small courtyards: Cortille della Rocchetta on the left and Corte Ducale on the right.

Rocchetta was the castle's fortress and the last refuge in case of siege. During the reign of Louis Il Moreau, the residences around the courtyard were magnificently decorated with frescoes. The three galleries that border the courtyard were designed by three different architects. The Torre Castellana tower in the western corner of Rocchetta was used at that time as a treasury.

Corte Ducal Courtyard is designed in Renaissance style and has a beautiful Loggetta di Galeazzo Maria. Several rooms around Corte Ducale are decorated with magnificent fifteenth-century frescoes.

The most famous is the fresco in the Sala delle Asse in the Falconiera tower, created by none other than Leonardo da Vinci.

In addition, the Sforza Castle has civic museums - Musei Civici. They occupy several floors around the Rochetta and Ducalet courtyard.

collection archaeological museum, containing prehistoric and Egyptian artifacts, can be seen in the basement floors near the Ducal Palace. On the ground floor there is an exhibition of ancient art. The most striking: the fourth-century sarcophagus, the fourteenth-century mausoleum of Bernabo Visconti and the Pieta Rondanini - an unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo. On the ground floor there is a furniture collection and an art gallery, which mainly displays Italian paintings, including Andrea Mantegna's "Trivulzio Madonna".

On the first and second floors of Rocchetta's house there is a museum of musical instruments and a collection of applied art. On the ground floor you will find historical musical instruments such as a sixteenth-century Venetian harpsichord, a glass harmonica and a Flemish double virginal. The collection of applied art includes many objects made of gold, silver, glass, porcelain, ivory and wrought iron from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. When you visit Castello Sforzesco in Milan and its magnificent museums, you won't be able to take home ugly photos.

Underground passages

There is a labyrinth under the castle underground tunnels. Some of them were built by Ludovico Sforza in the 14th century. He was not a very good duke, so the citizens of Milan looked for any opportunity to either cause him terrible harm or put an end to him. So Ludovico built these tunnels in such a way that he could come and go as he pleased. At that time, anger against him was at its peak. Rumor has it that one of the tunnels connected the castle with convent Santa Maria della Grazia. However, this tunnel was destroyed during World War II.

As for the Spaniards, they added several more tunnels to the existing ones just because of the war. They were interested in having a strong hold on the region and did everything possible for this purpose. Tunneling was part of a Spanish strategy. Today underground passages in the Sforzesco Castle in Milan are especially popular among tourists.

So, the most popular hotels near the Sforzesco Castle are: UNA Hotel Cusan (distance to the castle 200 m), Style Hotel (distance 300 m), Genius Hotel Downtown (350 m) and Brera Apartments in Garibaldi (450 m).

Helpful information

The castle is open from 7:00 to 19:00 in summer and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter. Admission is free, but visiting museums requires a fee. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:30. Closed during religious holidays and on Mondays. One entrance will cost 3 EUR, access for the season - 15 EUR.

The castle is located in the Umberto area. It can be reached by metro, bus or tram.

It is worth noting that Sforza Castle has an official website: