One of the secondary doors with the drawbridge structure
Focus on
Being a construction essentially for military purposes, the Castle was built on the city walls. Damaged quite a few times over several wars, it was repeatedly restored and modernized over time. Your tour companion will tell you the story and many anecdotes … such as the “sun of justice” motif, one of the symbols of the Visconti family, later adopted by the Sforzas.
At its heyday in 1450-1500, the Duke’s family had two residences inside. During wartime, they would move into one of the wings, inside the so-called Rocchetta, which was better protected against enemy invasions. (photo below)
The spectacular fountain in front of the Castle was built in 1930, during the Fascist regime. The central vat carries the decorative motif of a bundle of rods (namely a Fascio), that symbolized Mussolini’s dictatorship. The people of Milan call this fountain tort de’ spus, (namely wedding cake), after the shape created by the jets of water (see photo below)
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Exhibitions
Inside the huge building there are important artworks, such as:
The Pietà Rondanini the last incomplete work by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)
The Sala delle Asse, a spectacular fresco painted by Leonardo da Vinci on the ceiling of the so-called Room of Wooden Boards, since it owes its name to the wooden wall covering, used at the time to improve heating conditions inside.
Museums and Art Galleries
Other adjacent exhibitions showcase • Furniture collections, • Design, • Decorative art, • Musical instruments, • Archeology, • Antique prints, • Photos and drawings. There are three libraries for • Art, • Numismatic and • History.
Weapons and armor an exhibition suitable for adults and children
The Art gallery exhibiting works by Mantegna, Bronzino, Correggio, Tiziano, Tintoretto and some other Lombard artists.
