Sforza Castle

Sforza Castle is a medieval fortification in Milan built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza on the site of an earlier 14th-century stronghold. It was later enlarged and, during the 16th and 17th centuries, ranked among Europe's largest citadels. Extensively rebuilt between 1891 and 1905, it now houses several city museums and art collections.

Don't miss

• The Torre del Filarete, the central tower rebuilt between 1900 and 1905 based on 16th-century drawings as a monument to King Umberto I
• The Rocchetta, an internal defensive ridotto with its own gate and a portico featuring 15th-century arcades
• The Corte Ducale, the wing originally used as a ducal residence, with two loggias including the Loggiato dell'Elefante named for a fresco of an elephant
• The Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco, housing works by Mantegna, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Titian, and Tintoretto
• The Museum of the Rondanini Pietà, which contains Michelangelo's last sculpture
• The Biblioteca Trivulziana, holding around 180,000 books including a 1337 illuminated codex of Dante's Divine Comedy and Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Trivulzianus

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Sforza Castle

Cheapest way inSforza Castle and Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini guided experience4.6★ · 256 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$58 per personSee dates →Most bookedMilan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour4.6★ · 2,999 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$162 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleMilan Private Tour - Duomo, Sforza Castle & Gelato Tasting5★ · 40 travelers~3 hoursFrom$285 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The castle has a quadrangular plan with square towers on the side that once faced the countryside and two round towers on the side facing the walled city
• Multiple museums are housed within the castle complex, including the Museum of Ancient Art, the Egyptian Museum, and the Museum of Musical Instruments
• The Biblioteca Trivulziana inside the castle contains the Civic Historical Archive with civic documentation for Milan and the Duchy dating from 1385 onwards
• In 2025, evidence of tunnels sketched by Leonardo da Vinci was identified below the structure

A bit of history

The original castle was ordered by Galeazzo II Visconti around 1358–1370 and was known as Castello di Porta Giova. It was built on the same area as an ancient Roman fortification that served as a military camp when Milan was the capital of the Roman Empire. The castle was destroyed by the Golden Ambrosian Republic in 1447, then rebuilt by Francesco Sforza starting in 1450 as his princely residence. In 1494 Ludovico Sforza commissioned artists including Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante to decorate the castle. After French victory at the Battle of Marignano in 1515, the castle was besieged and capitulated when sappers placed mines under its foundations. Under Spanish rule it became a citadel, and most outer fortifications were demolished during the Napoleonic period. After Italian unification, the castle was transferred to the city of Milan and Parco Sempione was created on the former parade grounds.