The Sforza castle, between fortifications and cultural space

This building was erected at the request of Francesco Sforza, who proclaimed himself lord of the town, during the 15th century. It was built on the remains of a previous medieval fortress. During its lifetime, the castle played host to a number of high society families, not all of them Italian. Members of foreign governments such as Charles V and Napoleon Bonaparte also stayed here.

From 1815, the fortification became a military camp and a refuge for enemy Austrian troops who came to attack the city. After much debate, part of the monument was finally demolished and returned to its original form under the Sforza family. At its height, the fortress resembled a city within a city, where the officers and their servants lived. Kitchens, reception rooms, attics and even bakeries made up the building.

The first impression you get when you arrive in Piazza Castello is that of being infinitely small compared to this immense building. The Filarete tower faces the fountain on the esplanade and is the very first feature of the citadel. Adorned with red brickwork and attractive modenations, the tower is framed by two circular turrets. The quadrangle is surrounded by a moat and escorted by two towers on the town-side facade, which once contained water reservoirs.

Once inside the complex, you arrive in a very large courtyard, the ducal courtyard, which leads to the various rooms to be visited. It would be a shame to stop here and miss the Rochetta, a fortress within a fortress: this is the Duke's former residence, no less! The rear façade features two square towers, the left of which is known as the Castellana tower. To find out more about this fortified complex, an audio tour of the Sforza fortress is available from €13.50 for 2 hours.

Among the must-see rooms is the Sala dell'Asse, where you can see part of the ancient fresco by the famous Leonardo da Vinci, a close friend of Ludovico Maria de Sforza, better known as 'Moro'. Initially, only a tiny piece of the fresco was visible, and it was only thanks to new excavations begun in 2013 that new fragments were discovered.

The Museum of Ancient Art is certainly the most important in the complex, housing engravings dating back to the Sforza family and sculpted works from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Among the most famous creations is the statue Pietà Rondanini, Michelangelo's very last work, which he was never able to finish...

The castle's art gallery is on the first floor of the building and contains more than 1,500 works dating from the 13th to 18th centuries, including a range of frescoes painted by numerous artists from the regional school. For those with a passion for Egypt, there is a museum displaying funerary objects and... a few mummies to look at. There is also a Museum of Decorative Arts, which displays a large number of paintings on ceramics, the details of which are magnificent.

Sempione Park

Continue your exploration in the neighbouring garden: the Parc Sempione, one of the largest in Milan. Flowers, plants and trees intermingle in this green space. Inaugurated between 1890 and 1893, it is designed in the English style, leaving plenty of room for biodiversity, which is much appreciated in cities. The species and plants abound in this garden, which is particularly pleasant on hot summer days: it's a breath of fresh air for Milan.

There are a number of monuments in this natural setting, including the Triennale Design Museum in the Palazzo dell'Arte, which hosts temporary exhibitions. It changes several times a year. For more information, we recommend you take a look at the programme before you go.

Piazza Sempione

This square adjoins the park of the same name and is characterised by the Arch of Peace that stands at its centre. It is a fine example of Milan's neoclassical architecture. Built in 1807 to celebrate Napoleon's victories, it was finally completed in 1815. It is made of Baveno granite encased in Creola d'Ossola marble. At the top of the building, several bronze statues depict the Sestiga della Pace, accompanied by four Victories on horseback, while the front displays representations of the Italian rivers Po, Ticino, Adda and Tagliamento.

This square is one of the most popular places to enjoy an evening drink and a Milanese aperitivo. There are many establishments to choose from, including Capuanos, one of the best pizzerias. A pastry that's both soft and crispy, a generous layer of tomato sauce on top of which come a few slices of fresh mozzarella and garnished with a basil leaf... It's nirvana!

📍 Address: via Francesco Londonio, Milan

👛 Price: from €6

⏰Opening times: daily from noon to 3pm and from 7pm to midnight

🚌 How do I get there?

The castle is just a few minutes' walk from Piazza del Duomo. Getting there couldn't be easier, just do your best Italian accent and ask for "il Castello Sforzesco, per favore".

📍 Address:

Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano

👉 Tickets:

Possibility to buy your ticket online to avoid queuing or on site from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm.

⏰ Opening times:

• Castle: Tuesday to Sunday, 7am to 7.30pm, except on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

• Museums and exhibitions: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm (last admission at 5pm).

👛 Admission:

Visiting the castle is free (in the courtyards) but access to the galleries inside the building is chargeable. Tickets cost €5 for adults and €3 for concessions.

Because the capital of Lombardy is also a great place to enjoy a really good ice cream, artisan ice cream maker RivaReno is offering a selection of ice cream delights to take away in a cone or a small tub. Naturally generous, the ice creams are intensely flavoursome and contain no artificial additives.