- Type
- Castle
- Built
- 1450 · 15th century
- Site origins
- 1360 per Wikidata – an earlier stronghold or first mention
- Style
- Renaissance architecture
- Architect
- Filarete
- Coordinates
- 45.4710°, 9.1797°
History
In the 14th century the Visconti, lords of Milan, built a castle here by one of the city gates, which was torn down by a short-lived republic after the dynasty died out in 1447. A few years later Francesco Sforza began a new and powerful fortress, and under Ludovico Sforza, known as Il Moro, it became a glittering Renaissance court where Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante worked. Over the following centuries, under Spanish and Austrian rule, it served mainly as barracks and a citadel. At the end of the 19th century the architect Luca Beltrami restored it and rebuilt the Filarete gate tower. Today the castle houses several civic museums.
What to see
Beyond the Filarete Tower lies a huge parade courtyard, followed by the Rocchetta and the Ducal Court. The museums include the Sala delle Asse with Leonardo's painting of intertwined tree branches, the Rondanini Pietà, Michelangelo's last work, and collections of painting, sculpture, musical instruments and Egyptian antiquities. Behind the castle stretches Sempione Park.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q23354
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