# Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco), Milan > Sforza Castle is the vast 15th-century brick fortress of Milan's dukes, its tall tower rising over the main gate. The courtyards are free to wander; inside are the civic museums — Michelangelo's final sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà, a hall painted by Leonardo, old masters, armour and musical instruments. Allow about two hours for the museums. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/sforza-castle - City: [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan), Italy - YesGo score: 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Courtyards free; museums ticketed - Opening hours: Museums Tuesday–Sunday, closed Monday - Highlights: Rondanini Pietà, Sala delle Asse, Filarete Tower - Museums: Ancient art, picture gallery, instruments - Time needed: 20 minutes for the courtyards, about 2 hours for museums - Metro: Cairoli (M1), 2 minutes; Lanza (M2) - Coordinates: 45.47100, 9.17969 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **14th century** — the Visconti built the first fortress here (source: English Wikipedia) - **1450** — Francesco Sforza began rebuilding it (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 70 m** — height of the Filarete Tower over the gate (source: English Wikipedia) - **1905** — Luca Beltrami rebuilt the tower (source: English Wikipedia) - **Michelangelo** — the Rondanini Pietà is his last sculpture (source: English Wikipedia) ## A short history Milan's **Visconti** rulers built the first fortress here in the 14th century. When **Francesco Sforza** took power in **1450**, he rebuilt it as a splendid residence behind massive walls, and under his successors — above all Duke **Ludovico il Moro** — Renaissance masters including **Leonardo da Vinci** and Bramante worked here. Centuries as a fortress left it run down, and in the late 19th century the city considered demolishing it. Architect **Luca Beltrami** argued for restoration instead, rebuilding the tall **Filarete Tower** over the main gate from old drawings (1905) and installing the civic museums that still fill its halls. ## Courtyards and towers Through the gate beneath the Filarete Tower lies the huge **Piazza d'Armi**, free to stroll. Beyond are the two inner courts of the ducal residence: the **Rocchetta**, the most fortified part, and the **Corte Ducale** with its graceful loggia. Two round stone towers anchor the corners, and an archway at the back opens into [Parco Sempione](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/parco-sempione) — walk straight through for views down Via Dante to the cathedral and across the park to the Arch of Peace. In summer the courtyards host open-air concerts and films. ## The Rondanini Pietà and the museums The castle's treasure is Michelangelo's **Rondanini Pietà**, his **last sculpture**, which he worked on into extreme old age. Left unfinished, its figures of Mary and Christ seem to dissolve into the stone — unlike anything else he made. It has its own hall in the former Spanish hospital. In the **Sala delle Asse**, **Leonardo** painted the vault as a canopy of sixteen trees whose branches weave into a golden rope; the hall has recently been restored. The castle also holds the **Museum of Ancient Art**, a **picture gallery** with Mantegna, Bellini and Correggio, a collection of **musical instruments**, furniture, ceramics and an Egyptian section. ## What to see - **Filarete Tower** — over the main gate, the castle's emblem. - **Rondanini Pietà** — Michelangelo's last sculpture. - **Sala delle Asse** — Leonardo's tree-branch ceiling. - **Picture gallery** — Mantegna, Bellini, Correggio. - **Musical Instruments Museum** — violins, harpsichords and rarities. - **Corte Ducale** — the dukes' courtyard with its loggia. > **One ticket covers it all** A single ticket opens every castle museum, including the Rondanini Pietà and the Sala delle Asse — buy it at the desk by the main courtyard or online. See the Pietà first; mornings are quieter. The courtyards stay open after the museums close. ## How to get there 1. Metro M1 to **Cairoli**, 2 minutes to the main gate. 2. Metro M2 to **Lanza**, 5 minutes to the side entrance. 3. From [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/milan-cathedral), 15 minutes along Via Dante. 4. Trams 1, 2, 4 and 12 stop at Piazza Castello. ## Is Sforza Castle worth it? Yes. The courtyards are free and handsome, and the Rondanini Pietà and the Sala delle Asse justify a ticket even for non-museum people. Combine it with a walk in Parco Sempione and the Last Supper, 15 minutes away. Children tend to love the walls, towers and armour. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Check it isn't a Monday - [ ] Buy the single museum ticket - [ ] Start with the Rondanini Pietà - [ ] Find Leonardo's Sala delle Asse - [ ] Leave by the back gate into Parco Sempione ## Milan's museums: compare and choose Museums and galleries in Milan rated by YesGo. - [The Last Supper](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/last-supper) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Paid, booking only - [San Siro Stadium](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/san-siro) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid - [La Scala](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/la-scala) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Paid - [Sforza Castle](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/sforza-castle) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Courtyards free, museums paid - [Pinacoteca di Brera](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-di-brera) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid - [Pinacoteca Ambrosiana](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-ambrosiana) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Paid ## Castle, park and Leonardo Sforza Castle, a stroll in Parco Sempione, the Last Supper and the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio. 1. [Sforza Castle](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/sforza-castle) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Courtyards free, museums paid 2. [Parco Sempione](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/parco-sempione) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 3. [The Last Supper](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/last-supper) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Paid, booking only 4. [Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/sant-ambrogio) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free ## Don't mix it up The Rondanini Pietà isn't Michelangelo's famous Pietà in St Peter's, Rome: the Rome one is early and polished, Milan's is his last and unfinished. ## Tips - The courtyards are free. - Museums close on Mondays. - See the Pietà in the morning. - Parco Sempione is out the back. ## Questions ### Is Sforza Castle free? The courtyards are free; the museums, including the Rondanini Pietà, need a single ticket. ### What is there to see in Sforza Castle? Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà, Leonardo's Sala delle Asse, the picture gallery, the musical instruments museum and the courtyards. ### How long do you need? 20 minutes for the courtyards, around two hours for the museums. ### When are the museums closed? Usually on Mondays. ### How do I get to Sforza Castle? Metro M1 to Cairoli, or a 15-minute walk from the Duomo along Via Dante. ## How we checked History, museums and collections from English Wikipedia. Prices and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia, Sforza Castle; Rondanini Pietà - Official castle website milanocastello.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.