Sforza Castle

The Sforza Castle stands in the heart of Milan, a massive medieval fortress rebuilt in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza. It occupies the site of an earlier 14th-century Visconti castle and an even older Roman fortification. The castle’s outer walls once stretched for three kilometres, enclosing a vast area of nearly twenty-six hectares. Over the centuries it served as a princely residence, military stronghold and armaments depot. Extensive damage during the Second World War led to careful reconstruction for museum use. Today it houses several civic collections within its quadrangular walls. The castle’s long history is visible in its surviving towers and gates. The central Torre del Filarete, rebuilt in the early 20th century, marks the main entrance. The Torre della Corte and Torre del Tesoro still show their 15th-century windows added under the Sforzas. Bramante’s loggia bridge once linked the ducal apartments to the inner courtyard. Remains of the Ghirlanda wall and its water-filled ditch recall Francesco Sforza’s defensive works. Visitors can walk past the Porta del Soccorso and see traces of later ravelins added by Spanish engineers. Inside, the Rocchetta offers a quiet inner courtyard with 15th-century arcades. The Corte Ducale preserves two loggias, one decorated with a fresco of an elephant. The Pinacoteca displays paintings by Mantegna, Canaletto and Titian, while the Museum of Ancient Art holds armour, tapestries and funerary pieces. Beyond the castle gates, Parco Sempione stretches across the former parade ground, linking the fortress to the city’s modern heart.