Castello Sforzesco is the Milanese castle that was rebuilt in 1450 by Francesco Sforza on the ruins of the Visconti’s fortress. Under the rule of Lodovico Maria Sforza, known as the “Moor”, the castle became one of the most important royal palaces in the Renaissance period.

Here the best known artists and architects of the time worked on it, among them Donato Bramante, Antonio Averlino called Filarete (the main tower in the facade is called Filarete’s tower) and Leonardo da Vinci that remained here till 1499 when the family Sforza lost the power.

During the French, Spanish and Austrian dominations it was used as military barracks and underwent so much damage and rough treatment that it could only be considered little more than a ruin. At the beginning of the 20th century the architect Luca Beltrami restored it, in order to house important museums. After the Second World War it was refurbished and today there are incredible masterpieces.

In the Ducal Court there is Museo d'Arte Antica with a lot of sculptures from the time of antiquity till Renaissance. Sala delle Asse is the room painted by Leonardo da Vinci. A ducal chapel with an armory and on the first floor there is a Pinacoteca, a painting gallery from 15th to 18th century. The furnitures museum and Egyptian and Archeological collections are still in the Ducal Court. In Rocchetta (military fortress) there are Museo delle arte decorative: a collection of ceramics, glasses, ivory objects and one of biggest collection of ancient music instruments. Pietà Rondanini is the unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti and it is inside a special single museum, because it is a precious masterpiece.

In Sempione Park it is possible to admire the Arena, the Aquarium, the Branca Tower and the neoclassical Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace).

The 2-hours long tour starts with the visit of the three courtyards, then you enter into the most important museums (on Monday closed) and you end with a nice walking tour in the Sempione Park.