Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) in Milan, Italy. Sforza castle Sforza castle

The Sforza Castle, or Castello Sforzesco, is one of the symbols of Milan. It got its name from Francesco Sforza, but he was neither its founder nor the first owner.

The beginning of the construction of the future castle falls on the time of Galeazzo II, one of the representatives of the Visconti family. In 1368, the castle began to be built as a military fortress to repel enemies.

Endless wars, power struggles and tyranny of the Visconti clan led to the weakening of his rule, which ended in 1447. The citizens of Milan rose up against the hated tyrants and created the Ambrosian Republic. The rebellious people destroyed most of the castle's buildings.

After a short republican rule, power in Milan passed to Francesco Sforza, a skilled military leader, a mercenary in service in Milan.

He was married to Bianca Maria, daughter of the last Visconti ruler. After successfully defending the republic from attacks for three years, Francesco Sforza managed to proclaim himself Duke of Milan.

The new ruler not only took up the restoration of the castle, his plans included the construction of both his own residence and a fortress capable of protecting Milan.

The best architects and engineers - Giovanni da Milano, Jacopo da Cortona and Marcoleone da Nogarolo - were tasked with creating such a luxurious residence that would not resemble the old fortress.

The construction was completed in 1452. The appearance of the built castle resembles the fortress walls and the silhouettes of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. This is no coincidence: the Sforza Castle served as a model for Italian architects who were invited to Moscow.

In particular, Aristotle Fioravanti was in the service of Francesco Sforza, he at one time worked with Antonio Filarete, who owns the central tower of the castle, named after him.

There is evidence that Fioravanti, having built the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, took part in drawing up a plan for the reconstruction of the walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin under Tsar Ivan III.

The Sforza Castle received high fortified walls. In plan, it is a regular square with sides 200 meters long. The external facades have acquired an attractive appearance thanks to the work of the architect Filaret, specially invited for this purpose.

He also built the central gate tower of the castle. The round corner towers gave the structure a finished look and played an important defensive goal.

However, Francesco Sforza and his family preferred the old palace on Cathedral Square to the new castle, which was then outside the city limits.

Castello Sforzesco was mainly used for organizing gala receptions. One of the round towers housed a garrison, mostly archers. In the underground chambers of the castle, criminals were kept in prison.

The Sforza Castle was rebuilt several times in its subsequent history. In 1466 Francesco Sforza died, and his eldest son Galeazzo Maria came to power.

Representatives of the next generation of the family are known for their love of luxury, but at the same time they remained indifferent to comfort and convenience for a long time.

They bought luxury goods, expensive jewelry, thoroughbred horses, but continued to live in inappropriate conditions.

And yet Galeazzo Maria took up the improvement of the castle. He invited architects from Florence. It took several years to create a real residence.

A Ballroom was set up in the castle, where they not only danced, but also played sports. A portico, an arcade and other service rooms were added to the courtyard.

In the state halls, they made expensive finishes and purchased elegant furniture. The paintings of that time have largely survived to this day.

When the castle began to correspond to the status of a ducal residence, Galeazzo and his wife Bona of Savoy settled here. In 1473, the Corte Ducale chapel was built in the castle.

Such masters as Bonifacio Bembo, Giakomino Wismara and Stefano Fedeli took part in its creation.

However, a few years later, Galeazzo Maria Sforza was killed. His widow, Bona of Savoy, for safety in Rochetta, which is the most fortified part of the castle, built the highest tower to control the entire territory. It was named Torre di Bona, meaning the Tower of Bona.

The next ruler of Milan was Ludovico Maria Sforza, also known as Ludovico Moro. The years of his reign were the time of the rise of Milan, when lands were mastered, canals were built, culture and science developed.

Ludovico Moro invited many scientists and artists to serve, including Leonardo da Vinci, who was involved in architectural and military projects. However, the current guests of the castle are more attracted by the preserved fragments of Leonardo's frescoes in Saladella Aste.

Ludovico Moreau ruled until 1500, when he was defeated in the war with King Louis XII. As a result, he was captured in France. The Sforza Castle under the new rulers, who changed several times, gradually turned into a military fortification.

In this sense, the policies of the French, Swiss, Spaniards or Austrians differed little from each other. Everyone tried to use the Sforza Castle as a real fortress, their outpost in northern Italy.

This had its sad consequences. In 1521, the tower of Filarete was struck by lightning, which caused an explosion of the stock of gunpowder stored there, which destroyed the tower and severely damaged the castle.

New fortress walls appeared around Milan, which also covered the castle, then they were replaced with more reliable bastions. The castle housed up to 2000 soldiers.

A warehouse was located in the room with frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci. According to archival data, the fortress had a hospital, a pharmacy, repair shops, a tavern and two churches.

In the era of the revolutionary Napoleonic wars in 1796, Napoleon, supported by local residents, conquered Milan from Austria.

There is a version that the Milanese wanted to destroy the castle as a symbol of despotic rule, however, fortunately, this was not possible due to the ongoing hostilities.

To oppose Napoleon, a coalition of European states was created, in which Russia also took part. The Russian troops were commanded by A.V. Suvorov.

After the battle at the Adda River and the following battles, in which the French suffered heavy losses, the road to Milan was opened for the Russian army.

The city, from which most of the French garrison fled, surrendered without a fight in April 1799 to the advanced Russian troops.

In the Sforza castle surrounded by the Cossacks, part of the garrison remained, along with the sick and wounded. Here, too, no one thought of resistance.

The Milanese greeted the Russian army with enthusiasm, as, however, a few years earlier, they were no less jubilant when welcoming General Bonaparte.

The Russian page in the history of Milan does not end there. Suvorov himself arrived there. Among other activities, he was to take part in a solemn divine service at the Milan Cathedral on the occasion of Easter. However, Suvorov first went to Via Torino, to the temple of San Giorgio.

There is a city legend that the Russian commander, entering the temple, knelt down, kissed the floor, crawled on his knees to the altar, where he prayed for a long time to the patron saint of the Christian army, George the Victorious.

Knowing the exalted and eccentric character of Suvorov, it is very easy to believe in this story.

After the withdrawal of the allied forces, Milan and the Sforza castle remained in the possession of Austria, but after a few years Napoleon managed to take revenge and regained French control over Italy. During these years Milan became the capital of the Cisalpine Republic.

The Sforza Castle was still a barracks, although the fortifications around it were removed and the territory for the park was planned. During these years, the frescoes of Leonardo da Vinci were whitewashed with lime.

After the final expulsion of Napoleon, the Austrians used the castle as a barracks until the end of 1859.

It was in this year that the Italians managed to get rid of the occupiers. On the winning wave, the temperamental Milanese did not spare the military fortifications.

They, the founders, plundered the Sforza castle, which once again in its history suffered great destruction.

Only in the process of the reunification of Italy, which is known as the Risorgimento, the question arose about the reconstruction of the castle. It still remained a symbol of Milan and finally received the status of an architectural monument.

The first stage included the necessary scientific research. The Milan architect Luca Beltrami used archival graphic and literary sources.

As a result, this reconstruction was called "philological". At the same time, funds were collected for the reconstruction, which took place in 1895-1897.

Since May 1, 1900, when museums of archeology and art were opened in the castle, it became available to everyone. The castle survived the First World War safely, but after the bombing of 1943, serious damage had to be repaired.

Work continued until 1956. The destroyed buildings were restored, the frescoes and elements of the interior decor were updated.

Today the Sforza Castle appears in a form that is as close as possible to the time of its heyday. In front of the Central Tower there is Piazza Castello and the fountain, which, without hesitation, was given the same name - Fontana di Piazza Castello.

Sometimes, because of its characteristic shape, the fountain is called "Wedding Cake".

The central quadrangular tower consists of several tiers and is crowned with a small dome. The tower is 71 meters high. On the first tier, there are heraldic frescoes and the image of St. Ambrose.

Friends, hello everyone!

If there is a castle in the city, then you should definitely visit it. Moreover, as many argue, it bears similarities to the Moscow Kremlin. Whether they are or not, we will figure it out later, but for now we squint our eyes in a given direction to plan a visit.

A castle is always interesting, especially when there are a dozen museums in it. But I have to warn you in advance. If you are just like us explore Milan in 1 day, then you will not be able to roam much on the territory of the castle.

So either highlight at least half day to visit , or take a couple of photos for Instagram at the entrance.

Well, I will throw you some facts and photos to make the Sforza Castle in Milan a little more accessible to you.

First of all, let's figure out what we are dealing with here. Here is a magnificent example of 15th century defensive architecture.

This is not to say that what we see today is the original. Painfully many hands of Italian, Spanish, French and again Italian managed to rebuild it. But more on that below.

Does the castle represent a huge territory of interest today? both in terms of immersion in the past and for walks in the fresh air. You can get here in order to walk through local museums, or you can just walk along its impressive walls and feel the spirit of history.

The concept of "attraction" is somewhat reminiscent of St. Petersburg. The entrance to the territory of the castle is free, but visiting the inner premises is already for money.

But, unlike Petersburg, there is a single the ticket costs only 5 euros ... Then you will need at least half a day to squeeze all the juices out of it.

Get ready to eat art in droves. For now, let's move on to the history of the creation of the castle.

History of the Sforza castle

We will not drag out the genealogy of the dukes and rulers of the castle from ancient times to the present day for a long time, but simply outline the main milestones in history.

So, the construction of the castle was conceived by the Duke of Milan Galeazzo II Visconti from the ruling dynasty of Milan at the end of the 14th century. While the construction was reaching its logical end, the Visconti lost their influence and white supporters came to the city. Ambrosian Republic.

Francesco Sforza was able to seize the reins of government from the republic and return power to the dukes. It was he who gave the castle a look similar to today. After him, Galeazzo and Ludovico Sforzo furnished the castle properly, and entrusted the interior painting to famous masters. Among them was the famous Leonardo da Vinci .

By the way, pay attention to the bloodthirsty coat of arms of the dukes. They swallowed the kids at once.

After the fall of the Sforza power, the castle established first french king Louis XII , and after him the Spanish governors. Attaching a defensive significance to the castle, the Spaniards, carried away by the construction of powder stores, contributed to the partial destruction of the fortress during a lightning strike in 1521.

But the Spaniards were not embarrassed and they continued to use the castle as a military fortress.

During 2nd world war after the bombing, the courtyard and part of the fortress walls were damaged.

Only by 1956 the castle was not only rebuilt, but also gave it a historical look. Today it is one of the main attractions of Milan and one of the most visited tourist sites in the city.

Now, if, suddenly, you thought that I was not a storyteller or that you lacked some facts, then contact Veronica for explanations. She has the cheapest excursion in Milan for the main attractions.

Castello Sforzesco and the Moscow Kremlin

The tourist community says that the Sforza Castle was the prototype for the construction of the Moscow Kremlin. Particular similarity was achieved when designing the shapes of the towers and the battlements crowning the walls.

Although the resemblance is not striking to me personally, there are strong facts for such conversations.

Spouse Ivan III, who Vasilievich , Sofia Palaeologus, niece of the Byzantine emperor, personally begs the Sforza family to let the talented architect Aristotle Fioravanti go to Moscow.

Aristotle, together with other Italian masters, is engaged in giving the appearance of the Moscow Kremlin Italian motives.

By the way, neither he nor his employees could return to their homeland. And Aristotle himself died in Moscow.

Castle grounds and courtyards

The castle has 2 poles, relative to which its centerline runs. From the east is fountain in Piazza Castello , and from the west - Arch of peace , created by order of Napoleon and is an analogue of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Between them is the castle itself and magnificent Sempione park .

By the way, the route of tram number 1, which I mentioned, stops both at the main entrance at the fountain and at the arch. So you can safely walk through the castle and the park.

The castle itself consists of an inner square Piazza delle armi , where you can get through the main fortress gate under the Filaret tower and two smaller courtyards: Corte Ducale and Rocceta .

The courtyard of Corte Ducale is also called Herceg, as the ducal chambers were located here.

A dozen museums are scattered throughout the territory, but the most important palace museum is several floors high, located in the courtyard of Corte Ducale.

By the way, it will take you the most of your time, since there is something to see here: sculptures, paintings, furniture, weapons and much, much more.

Castle museums

Entering one of the museums, you will be given a detailed map of the area for exploring the museums. But I recommend that you think over your visit in advance. So most likely you can't do it in less than 3 hours , and if you still wake up to catch flies, then write lost.

Let's orient ourselves slightly on the terrain. I will use one of the cards I was given in the castle itself.

I will not describe in detail. Otherwise, we won't get by with one article:

1. Michelangelo Museum - here you can look at the last work of the genius, which remained unfinished: Madonna holding the body of her dead son Jesus in her hands. It is interesting to read about the ideas of the sculptor himself and the interpretation of the sculpture by Pieta Rondanini over the years of his formation.
2. Museum of Ancient Art - about 2000 items of an important collection from antiquity and the Middle Ages
3. Halls with frescoes Leonardo da Vinci himself - once these frescoes decorated many rooms of the castle.
4. Weapons museum - collection of weapons from the Middle Ages to the 18th century
5. Furniture Museum and wooden sculptures - 6 centuries of furniture history from the 15th century to the present day
6. Picture gallery - one of the main collections of the city, numbering about 1500 paintings
7. Museum of Decorative Arts - ceramics, sculptures, gold and silver items.
8. Museum of musical instruments - the second most important collection in Italy
9. Archaeological Museum
10. Egyptian Museum - fundamental aspects of Egyptian civilization: art and artifacts.
11. Temporary exhibitions : Spanish hospital.

Castle entrance fees

Initially, I thought that to visit the castle and its museums, I would have to keep pulling crispy euros out of my pockets. Therefore, we were not going to knock on museum doors. But the situation was simplified by one of the museum employees.

Reaching the front door with the keyword Michelangelo , we decided to take a peek at his latest masterpiece. But everything turned out to be much simpler.

The courteous gentleman suggested that we should not wrinkle in the souvenir department, but pay some 5 euros and go to the object. Seeing my confusion, he declared that for these same 5 euros about 10 more museums are waiting for me.

It was here that I spread my wings, and also collected a bundle of brochures from the educational corner of the exhibition. Apparently, we will have to stay on the territory of the castle. Not to waste the 5 euros that we paid for the tickets?

How much does it cost to visit the museums of the castle

So, after my monologue, you already understood that:

• An adult ticket to all museums costs 5 euros
• Children's ticket for children under 18 costs 0 euros

If you do not want to pay for the ticket, then come on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month or on the first Sunday. Then you don't have to carry your wallet with you.

How else can you get to museums? Buy yourself Tourist Museum Card for 12 euros. It is valid for 3 days and entitles you to free admission to all city museums in Milan. Which ones?

But remember:

• Musei del Castello Sforzesco
• Museo del Novecento
• Galleria d'Arte Moderna
• Museo Archeologico
• Acquario Civico
• Museo di Storia Naturale

Not bad in my opinion. If we had a couple more days in stock, I would definitely buy such a card.

Official site, opening hours

You can punch through the necessary and useful information about the museum on the website milanocastello.it/en .

The opening hours of the museum and the castle are generally different.

• The castle is open: 07.00 - 19.30
• Museums are open: 09.00 - 17.30

Unlike the castle, on Mondays the museums in the fortress (like most other museums in Milan) have a day off.

Where is the castle and how to get to it

The castle is located in the city center and it will not be difficult to reach it on foot from the same Duomo or La Scala theater. 10 minutes walking on a clear landmark - visible filaret towers.

From the central railway. train station you can get here by tram number 1 (excellent choice) or come by metro. You will need the green line of the M2 metro and a stop Lanzo or next Cadorna .

Well, if you are on a walk, then the main thing is to arrive in the center, here it will already be a stone's throw to all the main attractions.

Here's a castle on the cards Google maps for reference:

Good to know

Already at home I read that, it turns out, there is underground tunnel open to the public. The fact that there are underground tunnels there in general is understandable. Every duke dreams in the event of a nix to quickly retire to freedom by means of underground passages.

But the fact that they are open to visiting is cool, especially since this tunnel does not lead anywhere, but to the Church of Maria delle Grazie. The same one where the priceless painting by Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper" is kept.

So if a gamble lives in you and you would like to wander through the dungeons, and look, what good, to plan to steal a masterpiece, then you should definitely get on an excursion into the tunnel. This extreme excursion is held on Saturdays.

Unfortunately, I have no specific data on this excursion. But I think that milan guides are herewill be able to answer your questions.

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Not without castles in Milan. The most popular of these is the Sforza Castle, built in the middle of the 15th century. It will be especially interesting for tourists from Russia. Why is the castle so remarkable? First of all, the shape of the towers and the crown of the crowning wall of the battlements are like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin. There is nothing surprising in this: the Milanese architects, who were invited to work on the project of the Moscow Kremlin, took the appearance of the Sforza fortress, hence the similarity.

The shape of the towers and the crown of the crowning wall of the battlements, the Sforza Castle is like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin.

The castle contains rare canvases, various sculptures, busts of the great Italians, there is a hall dedicated to the work of Leonardo da Vinci. By the way, he was personally involved in decorating this castle. Also here are furniture, clocks, household utensils, bed linen, which, since the 15th century, were in use in the homes of nobles. In addition, in the castle museum you can see the last (unfinished) sculpture by Michelangelo, Pieta Rondanini, paintings by Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Filippino Lippi, Correggio and Pontormo, as well as an interesting collection of musical instruments.

The Sforza Castle or Castello Sforzesco is one of the main symbols of Milan's history. The castle was built in the fifteenth century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, on the remains of a previous fortification dating back to the fourteenth century, known as the Castrum Porte Jovis (Castle of Porta Jovia or Zobia).

Throughout its long history, the castle has undergone significant transformations on several occasions. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was one of the largest citadels in Europe. Today, the Sforza Castle is home to important cultural institutions and tourist destinations.

Interesting! The external appearance of parts of the Sforza Castle was taken as a model during the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, which is clearly expressed in the form of towers and battlements of the walls. For this reason, you can hear how the castle is called the Milan Kremlin, however, based on history, rather, this Kremlin should be called the Moscow Sforza.

The Sforza Castle is located in the historic center of Milan, on the castle square (Piazza Castello) and symbolizes the main entrance to the Sempione Park. was broken on the site of the former parade ground near the castle.

In front of the central entrance to the castle, on Piazza Castello, you can see the fountain of the same name (Fontana di Piazza Castello), shaped like a cake. It is not for nothing that the fountain is called “Wedding Cake”.

Currently, the castle has been restored and welcomes guests with open arms. From the outside of the castle you can see the imposing walls and towers, as well as several gates, i.e. You can sleep in the castle from four of its sides, along the bridges thrown over the moats.

Behind the cake fountain are the main gate and the main tower of the castle - the Filaret Tower (La torre del Filarete). Torre del Filarete is the tallest and perhaps the most impressive castle tower. This multi-tiered quadrangular tower is almost 71 meters high.

The main gate leads to the courtyard of the castle. Everything inside the castle is strict and proportional. Here you can see open areas - three courtyards, the main one is the largest and two smaller ones - Rocchetta and the Ducal Court.

And within the castle walls is the Sforza castle museum complex, consisting of libraries and several museums related to the history and culture of Milan and directly to the Sforza castle. For example, the Castello Sforzesco Art Museum, the Castle History Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Ancient Art Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Furniture and Wooden Sculpture Museum, etc.

Rocchetta (La Rocchetta) - the most impregnable part of the castle, where you could hide in the event of an attack. You can get to Rocketta from the main courtyard of the castle.

Roccetta consists of a small, square courtyard surrounded by five storey walls on four sides.

Rocchetta is protected by two towers: the tower of Bona di Savoia (La torre di Bona di Savoia), located between Rocchetta and the beachhead, and the tower of Castellana, which is in the western corner of the castle. The tower called "Bona" was built in 1477.

Rocchetta interior with Bona di Savoia Tower

Ducal Court (La Corte Ducale) - the interior of the castle with greenery and a swimming pool, which is one of three courtyards. In this place, during the Renaissance, the apartments of the dukes and the center of court life were located. The court is U-shaped and occupies the northern part of the castle. It was built and decorated in the second half of the fifteenth century. Although over the next four centuries, the Ducal Court was converted into barracks, as well as damaged and altered, the restorations of the nineteenth century restored the appearance and decoration of the Renaissance.

The back wall of the court is occupied by the so-called "Portico dell" Elefante, supported by stone pillars, containing a faded fresco depicting exotic animals, including a lion and an elephant. This fresco is called an elephant fresco. Currently, there is a tombstone under the portico. in Latin symbols, which stood in front of the "Shameful Column" on today's Piazza Vetra, built in 1630 and demolished in 1778. The column was erected on the site of the house of Gian Giacomo Mora, unjustly accused of spreading the plague, for which he was first tortured and then and executed.

The rear façade of the castle is the oldest, and corresponds to a fourteenth century building by Galeazzo Visconti. One of the four gates of the castle is located here. The gate bridge is called Ponticella di Ludovico il Moro and leads straight to Sempione Park.

Right (northeast) entrance to the Sforza Castle

Left (southwest) entrance to the Sforza Castle

Opening hours of the Sforza Castle in Milan

Daily. November to March: 07:00 to 18:00, April to October: 07:00 to 19:00. The entrance to the castle is free (free), but you will have to pay for the entrance to the museums (there is a system of discounts and a flexible schedule of free visits).

Milan has always been a free and capricious city. Another emperor. In the beginning it was, the dukes of Milan were appointed by the emperor. However, after a while Milan became independent again, and power in the republic was seized first by the Visconti family, and then by the Sforza. The castle of the former rulers of Milan is one of the city's most striking landmarks.

The Dukes of Sforza came to power in 1450. Then Francesco Sforza took the place of his father-in-law by the name of Visconti. (For reference: director Luchino Visconti is a descendant of the former rulers of Milan)

The castle itself was originally a Visconti castle. However, during the turmoil, when the old Visconti died, and Sforza had not yet come to power, the townspeople tried to take power into their own hands and destroyed the castle. Then Francesco Sforza restored the castle.

Leonardo da Vinci at the Sforza court.

Sforza are also known as patrons of the arts. Their courtyard was luxurious and refined. Especially under Lodovico Sforza, who ruled Milan 1480-1499. It was for him that the great Leonardo da Vinci worked. In 1495 Leonardo began working on the.

Leonardo worked for Lodovico not at all as an artist, but as an engineer. He built all sorts of outlandish machines for the duke and arranged holidays. The story is known: when the wedding of Lodovico's nephew took place in the Sforza castle, Leonardo built an apparatus showing how the seven planets revolve in the sky. The planets descended alternately to the ground and recited congratulatory poems in front of the young. Specially trained people were assigned to depict the planets.

The Women of Lodovico Sforza.

The women of Lodovico Sforza are also famous for the magnificent portraits left by the geniuses of the Renaissance who worked at the court of Sforza. One of the portraits shows Lodovico's wife Biatrice Deste, whom he married in 1490. Contemporaries recall that with her everything was beautiful and elegant: from the decoration of buildings to caps that were worn on the heads of hunting falcons. Unfortunately, the girl died in childbirth at the age of 21.

Beatrice d Este was less than fifteen years old when she got married. Lodovico was older than the bride and he already had a lady of the heart - Cecilia.

Cecilia Gallerani, portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is called "The Lady with the Ermine"

Cecilia Gallerani was the duke's beloved in 1489-1490. It is believed that it was she who served as a model for Leonardo's painting "The Lady with the Ermine". After Lodovico's wedding, Cecilia was given in marriage and removed from the yard. http://leonardo-de-vinci.ru/biography/in_milan/in_isabella_and_beatrice.html

However, Lodovico got himself another mistress, Lucrezia Crivelli, one of the ladies of his wife, Beatrice. She served as a model for another painting, presumably by Leonardo da Vinci - The Beautiful Ferroniera.

Lucrezia Criveli

And Lodovico ended badly: in 1499 Milan was captured by the French, and its ruler Lodovico, due to the betrayal of the Swiss mercenaries, was captured by the French king, where he died.

Leonardo moved to France. and French culture is reaching a new level.

Description of museums in the Sforza castle

Nowadays, the Sforza castle houses a group of museums (ancient Egypt, prehistoric, musical instruments, tableware and a number of others). All museums have a single admission ticket (admission is free on Fridays in the afternoon).

A real revelation for me was the collection of wood sculptures in one of the castle museums

There are no works of Leonardo here; only spots on the ceiling remain from his frescoes in the castle. Nevertheless, there are interesting exhibits here. Next to the Sforza castle is the Sempione city park, which was laid out on the site of the parade ground.

In general, there are many parks in Milan, the city is quite green. Young people are lying on the grass, athletes run (for runners there are specially marked tracks indicating the length of the route), some play football, and some walk with the dog.