Originally the Visconti Palace and later Castello Sforzesco, the home of the powerful Sforza dynasty, it is now home to more than a dozen museums and is one of Milan’s most iconic landmarks.

This unusual red-brick building once hosted the master Leonardo da Vinci, who designed the castle’s defences.

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According to many tourists, the castle is one of the most beautiful in the whole of Italy, and is certainly one of the largest and most significant.

Architecture and history

Originally, a fortress belonging to the Visconti family stood on the site of the Sforzesco Castle; in 1450, Francesco I Sforza, the first military commander of the Sforza family in Milan, had it demolished and a larger, more monumental castle built in its place.

For centuries, the Castello Sforzesco served as Milan’s most important defensive stronghold, and until the 18th century, alterations to it were minimal. Following the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century, the castle was transformed from a defensive stronghold into a stately residence. The vast Sempione Park was laid out in the surrounding area. Further major alterations were carried out by the architect Luca Beltrani in the first half of the 20th century.

Today, the Sforzesca complex consists of the main palace with a courtyard surrounded by a high wall with battlements and five towers.

Museums: what’s there to see inside?

Castello Sforzesco now houses several museums that you can visit.

• Museo Pietà Rondanini– a small museum paying tribute to Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietà sculpture, which forms its centrepiece
• Pinacoteca– a gallery of Italian art from the 15th to the 18th centuries, featuring 230 works by artists such as Titian, Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, Andrea Mantegna and others
• Museo d’arte antica– a museum of ancient art boasting a large collection of sculptures from ancient Rome, as well as the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
• Museo Egizio– a museum of ancient Egyptian art
• Museo degli Strumenti Musicali– this fascinating museum of musical instruments features over 700 exhibits from the 15th to the 20th centuries, with a focus on those made in Lombardy

Admission and opening hours

The castle grounds are open daily from 7.00 am to 7.30 pm.

Entry to the courtyard isfree.

You only pay for entry to the museums, namely 5 eur for adults and 3 eur those under 18 and over 65. A ticket costing 5 eur grants access to all museums throughout the entire complex.

Official website:milanocastello.it

Accommodation in the area

The area around Castello Sforzesco can still be considered the heart of Milan, but you can now find cheaper hotels here, with prices starting from 124 eur per night.

These include, for example,the London Hoteland the Cadorna Luxury Hotel.

How do you get to the castle?

Castello Sforzesco is situated on the north-western edge of the city centre and is about a 20-minute walk from Milan Cathedral.

About 600 metres from the castle is another important landmark, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses Leonardo da Vinci’s mural *The Last Supper*.

Nearest metro station:

• Cairoli– 100 metres, red line 1
• Cadorna– 350 metres, red line 1 + green line 2, trains from Malpensa Airport
• Lanza– 350 metres, green line 2

Nearest tram stops:

• Cairoli– 100 metres, lines 1 and 4

What to see around

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