Sforza Castle
Milan, Italy
Parco Sempione, Milan
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Photo: Alessandro Perazzoli, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Opening hours
- Morning to late evening, closed at night
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Highlights
- Arch of Peace, the pond, Torre Branca, Triennale
- Torre Branca
- Viewing deck by lift, paid
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- About an hour; half a day with tower and museum
- Metro
- Cadorna (M1, M2), Lanza (M2), Cairoli (M1)
Key facts
1888–1893laid out by architect Emilio Alemagna
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English Wikipedia≈ 38 haarea of the park
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English Wikipedia1807–1838the Arch of Peace was built to Luigi Cagnola's design
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English Wikipedia≈ 108 mheight of Torre Branca (Gio Ponti, 1933)
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English Wikipedia1906the Art Nouveau Civic Aquarium opened
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English WikipediaA short history
The park occupies the former hunting grounds of the Visconti and Sforza dukes, later a huge parade ground beside the castle. In 1888–1893 architect Emilio Alemagna turned it into an English-style landscape park of winding paths, mounds, a pond and clumps of trees.
It's named after the road to the Simplon Pass (Sempione in Italian) across the Alps, whose start is marked by the Arch of Peace at the far end. The main axis runs straight from the gate of Sforza Castle to the arch, so you can see both from anywhere along it.
The Arch of Peace
The Arco della Pace was begun in 1807 by architect Luigi Cagnola in Napoleon's honour and finished in 1838 under Austrian rule, rededicated to peace in Europe. On top rides a bronze six-horse chariot with the goddess of Peace, with mounted Victories at the corners and marble reliefs below. Piazza Sempione around it is lined with cafés and bars, liveliest in the evening. From mid-avenue you can see the arch and the castle's Filarete Tower aligned on one axis.
What else is in the park
Torre Branca, a steel viewing tower about 108 m tall designed by Gio Ponti in 1933, lifts you to a deck overlooking the park, the castle, the Duomo and, on clear days, the Alps. Next door, the Triennale in the Palazzo dell'Arte is Italy's design museum, with shows on furniture, architecture and fashion.
There's also the 1906 Civic Aquarium in an Art Nouveau building tiled with sea creatures, the early-19th-century Arena, and the little iron Ponte delle Sirenette with its mermaid statues over the pond. In summer people sunbathe and picnic on the lawns and feed the ducks.
What to see
- Arch of Peace — the triumphal arch with its chariot.
- The pond and Ponte delle Sirenette — mermaid bridge.
- Torre Branca — a viewing deck around 100 m up.
- Triennale — the design museum.
- Civic Aquarium — an Art Nouveau gem.
- View of Sforza Castle — from the main avenue.
How to get there
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Sforza Castle is about 8 min away on foot.
- The Last Supper is about 17 min away on foot.
- Santa Maria delle Grazie is about 16 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro M1 or M2 to Cadorna, 5 minutes to Torre Branca.
- Metro M2 to Lanza or M1 to Cairoli, entrance by the castle.
- Through the gates of Sforza Castle straight into the park.
- Trams 1, 10 and 19 stop at the Arch of Peace.
Is Parco Sempione worth it?
Yes — it's the best place in central Milan to rest from stone and museums, and it joins seamlessly onto Sforza Castle. It's great with children, with playgrounds, ducks and the aquarium. Go up Torre Branca for the view, especially at sunset.
Before you go
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Castle, park and Leonardo
Sforza Castle, a stroll in Parco Sempione, the Last Supper and the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
- Sforza Castle2 h · Courtyards free, museums paid
- 7 min walk from the previous stopParco Sempioneyou are here1 h · Free
- 14 min walk from the previous stopThe Last Supper30 min · Paid, booking only
- 11 min walk from the previous stopBasilica of Sant'Ambrogio40 min · Free
4 places · about 4 h 42 min with walks · 32 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Enter via Sforza Castle.
- Torre Branca for the view.
- Kids love the pond and aquarium.
- Closed at night.
Questions
Where is Parco Sempione?
Right behind Sforza Castle, 15 minutes' walk from the Duomo.
Is Parco Sempione free?
Yes; only Torre Branca and Triennale exhibitions are paid.
What is there to see in Parco Sempione?
The Arch of Peace, the pond and mermaid bridge, Torre Branca, the Triennale and the Civic Aquarium.
When was the Arch of Peace built?
From 1807 to 1838, designed by Luigi Cagnola.
How do I get to Parco Sempione?
Metro to Cadorna, Lanza or Cairoli, or walk through Sforza Castle.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, Sempione Park; Arch of Peace (Milan); Torre Branca
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