The Castello Sforzesco in Milan – Court Life

Castello Sforzesco over the centuries

The time span involved in the construction and transformation of this majestic city fortress is very long: from the age of the Visconti to the glorious age of the Sforza family, at whose court Leonardo Da Vinci resided; from the dark times of Spanish domination to Napoleon Bonaparte, and on to more recent history, whenarchitect Luca Beltrami was assigned the task of restoring Castello Sforzesco to return it to the city in all its former glory. We owe to him, for example, the iconic Filarete Tower, which today dominates the well-known view of the Castle from Via Dante: designed in 1452 by the Tuscan architect Antonio Averulino known as Filarete, in the 16th century it was destroyed by a burst of gunpowder that had been deposited inside; Beltrami thought to rebuild it in a refined neo-Renaissance style, to inaugurate it in 1905.

Courtyards, towers and the Park: the Castle today

The Castello Sforzesco, commissioned by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, in the 15th century, has withstood the blows of history, transforming itself over time, but preserving intact its charm and importance as an immortal historical testimony that has come down to us. Starting right from the Filarete Tower, we explore the present quadrilateral of the fortress: the first courtyard is the Piazza delle Armi, embellished by the Torrioni del Carmine and Santo Spirito towers, elegantly clad in diamond-cut serizzo. To the northwest, beyond the Porta Giovia and the Torre di Bona,the Rocchetta rises imposingly with its high walls without windows in the parts exposed to possible attacks; embellished by three porticoed sides in the inner courtyard, it incorporates the Torre Castellana, which houses the splendid Treasure Hall, decorated by the great fresco by Argo, mythical guardian figure, by Bramantino. To the northeast, on the other hand, stretches the airy Corte Ducale, overlooked by the portico of the Elephant and the towering Torre Falconiera, once lodging for hunting falcons: on the ground floor of the tower, connected to the rooms that housed the private apartments of the duke and duchess, there is still the splendid Sala delle Asse, decorated by Leonardo da Vinci and the subject of a recent restoration, still in progress. Hoping for good weather, why not then end the cultural-historical itinerary in the greenery of Sempione Park? Built at the end of the 19th century, the park stands on the area that once belonged to the Barcho, the huge ducal estate where the Sforza family loved to spend their hours hunting game and exotic animals. We reach the Piazza del Cannone: moving beyond the courtyards of the Castle, listening to the stories of our guides, we will be able to imagine the magical courtly atmosphere of those distant times and observe, reliving centuries of history, how the city of Milan has changed today.

The thousand faces of Castello Sforzesco to be discovered with different Private Tours

The Castello Sforzesco and the Civic Museums

Walking among the towers and courtyards of the Milanese fortress, we can also imagine the splendid treasures kept inside. In fact, our beautiful castle, let us not forget, also houses the many masterpieces of the Milan Civic Museums, belonging to the most diverse arts: from sculpture to painting, from goldsmithing to design, from music to the most diverse applied arts. In fact, we also walk through its interior spaces, rediscovering the more distant history of the city of Milan, witnessed by the sculptural treasures of the Museum of Ancient Art. Moving among the rooms of the Castle, we admire the great and immortal masterpieces kept inside and the original Sforza-era decorations still visible today. On the ground floor of the towering Torre Falconiera, next to other decorated rooms such as the Sala dei Ducali, the Ducal Chapel and the Sala delle Colombine (once intended to house the private apartments of the duke and duchess), there is still an unmissable stop on a visit to the Castle: the magnificent Sala delle Asse, painted by Leonardo da Vinci and the subject of a recent restoration, which is still in progress. Equally special is theOspedale degli Spagnoli, the building facing the western side of the Piazza d’Armi and expertly restored in recent years, as it now houses the Museum of the Pieta Rondanini by Michelangelo, which houses the Florentine artist’s ultimate masterpiece, a work as fascinating as it is mysterious to many visitors. Our licensed guides will introduce you to this and much more, in a cultural-historical itinerary that will allow us to imagine the magical courtly atmosphere of distant years.

The battlements of the castle

Face to face with the Castello Sforzesco, one feels a bit small and lost in the middle of its Piazza d’Armi or at the foot of one of its towers. But when you suddenly find yourself strolling along its battlements, the perspective changes and you feel the sensation of dominating the city from above, like the Lords of Milan! A guided tour to discover the most hidden and mysterious corners of the Sforza Castle, but also a terrace over the city, a privileged vantage point to look from the heart of Sforza’s Milan at the metropolis of today, rising and challenging the clouds in height. Here we are, the ascent is made and the path of the patrol walkways opens up before us: Airy corridors alternating with narrow closed tunnels, terracotta and stone steps that are worth walking through to reach the destination, at altitude, and enjoy the spectacle! Among the narrow, dark passages of surreal charm, we will touch the Castellana Tower and the Falconiera Tower, indulging in magnificent views of the verdant area of Sempione Park, the skyline of Porta Nuova, the roofs of the beautiful buildings of Foro Bonaparte and, finally, the white spires of the Duomo.

The secret underground passages of the Castello Sforzesco

Impenetrable walls, steps and a wide, low vault: the Strada Coperta della Ghirlanda (Covered Road of the Garland ) is a very extensive walkway, probably dating back to Francesco Sforza ‘s rule in the mid-15th century. Branching out at the counterscarp of the castle moat, it allowed the movement of soldiers from the fortress to the Ghirlanda, the second curtain wall that served as a defensive apparatus toward the countryside and of which few remains are visible today in Parco Sempione, surviving the demolitions of the late 19th century. In its intact, restored and walkable part, today as then the Strada Coperta is a perfect defensive machine, a product of 15th-century engineering that amazes every visitor. Dim lights, a few narrow breaches on the outside, legs on our shoulders and lots of curiosity! As troops we will move in the wake of our commander, the guide who will accompany us on this fantastic adventure between bastions-anexperience not to be missed!

Saffron Risotto at Castello Sforzesco

Why not combine a visit to one of Milan’s iconic cultural sites with a tasting of one of Milan’s iconic dishes? After accompanying you to discover the charm of courtly life and medieval architecture, including crenellated towers and drawbridges, which come alive in Milan in the Castello Sforzesco, we will take you to a partner location to taste the yellow saffron risotto, a true icon of Milanese cuisine. What are you waiting for, ask for your private tour!