Sforza Castle (Italy)

Sforza Castle was originally a Visconti fortress and later the seat of the powerful Sforza family, the rulers of Milan, who transformed it into a magnificent ducal palace thought to have been decorated by some of the greatest artists of the time, including Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci .
It turned into a military complex during four centuries of foreign occupation and later used as Italian army barracks, at the end of the 19th century the castle was restored by Luca Beltrami, who turned it into the seat of the Civic Museums of Milan.

Today the castle is in all its glory in the homonymous square with its 70 meters high "Tower of Filarete" and a series of keep-majestic circular towers.
Sempione Park can be accessed through its royal courtyards, the Great Court, the Rocchetta and the Ducal Court. Inside the complex, in addition to the superb collections of ancient and modern art and furnishings, richly decorated, you can also admire the Rondanini Pietà by Michelangelo and the Sala delle Asse with an amazing vault decorated with frescoes designed by Leonardo da Vinci (currently being restoration).

Nowadays, "The Castle" houses a number of interesting museums and libraries. With Castello Sforzesco connected to Sempione Park, it is a favorite weekend getaway for young and old.