City with a sforza castle crossword puzzle. Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco)

The towers of the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco), succinctly connected by fortress walls into one majestic structure, will inevitably catch the eye of visitors to Milan.

Sforza Castle spent seven centuries under the azure Italian sky. During this time, he has seen the rise and fall of ruling dynasties, revolutions and popular uprisings, felt the touch of the hands of talented architects, sculptors and artists. Strict and attractive, the architectural ensemble in its outlines is very similar to the building of the Kremlin, built in Moscow. This circumstance is explained by the Italian roots of the construction project of the Russian fortress.

The history of this remarkable architectural monument is rooted in the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, the Visconti family of high-ranking aristocrats decided to acquire a family nest near Milan. The place chosen for the construction of the residence at that time was in the suburbs. Therefore, the construction of significant defensive structures and strong walls was required. However, the main danger for the castle and its inhabitants appeared from a completely unexpected direction. In the middle of the 14th century, the Visconti family lost its influence, and the Ambrosian Republic was proclaimed in Milan. Her associates inflicted great damage on the castle, which was the personification of the overthrown government.

The new republic did not last long, from 1447 to 1450. The rulers of the people were unable to cope with the onslaught of other cities. For support, they had to turn to the commander Francesco Sforza. At one time, his wife was the daughter of the last ruler of the Visconti family, Bianca. Enlisting the support of his aristocratic wife and a solid military force, Francesco Sforza managed to restore order in the city and declare himself the new duke of the city of Milan.

In the 15th century, thanks to the efforts of Sforza, the dilapidated Visconti Castle received a new life. The Duke pursued two goals: firstly, to revive the symbol of the ruling dynasty, and secondly, to strengthen the approaches to the city. Relying on the foundation of the fortress walls, high strong barriers were rebuilt. A geometrically correct stone square with a side of 200 m surrounded the castle with reliable protection. However, the new owner took care not only of the functional part, but also of aesthetics. The architect A.Averumin, famous in those years, also known as Filareta, was specially invited to finish the exterior facades.

Over time, towers with rounded walls appeared in the corners of the fortress walls. They have been perfectly preserved to this day and give the Sforza Castle a magnificent view, especially when viewed from the street (Via Dante).

Dear reader, to find an answer to any question about holidays in Italy, use. I answer all questions in the comments under the relevant articles at least once a day. Your guide in Italy Artur Yakutsevich.

Francesco and Bianca Sforza spent their entire lives in the center of Milan, using the palace in the Cathedral Square as their residence. Their son Galeazzo conceived the idea of returning the fortress outside the city to its former glory as a family castle. For these purposes, construction work was again launched to expand the castle building and finish the interior. The architect Benedetto Ferrini planned the inner perimeter of the fortress in such a way as to create two cozy courtyards - the Ducal courtyard and the Rocceta courtyard. In addition, the castle acquired spacious stables for 90 horses.

The interior transformation of the living quarters was also undertaken by Galeazzo Maria Sforza. He did not skimp on luxurious furniture, art and fabulous decoration. Specially for holding receptions and playing sports, the Ballroom appeared in the palace. Most of the interior beauty has survived to this day and is available to the eyes of visitors to Castello Sforzesco.

After the death of Galeazzo, his post and regalia passed into the hands of his brother Ludovico Moro. This worthy representative of a noble family managed to get himself as an artist for his castle. The famous Italian was engaged in the decoration of the hall della Aste, decorating it with magnificent frescoes. Several fragments of da Vinci's works have been preserved in good condition. By the way, the talented master was very attached to Milan; it was not for nothing that the Museum of Science and Technology dedicated to Leonardo was opened in this city. The museum is located on the territory of the monastery of San Vitore, and the main part of its exposition is da Vinci's inventions, drawings, sketches, and artistic and technical developments.

Transformation into a military base

At the end of the 15th century, turbulent times began, marked by the struggle of Italy, Spain, France and the Holy Roman Empire for the redivision of the world. During this period, Milan and its environs often changed their ruler, which did not have a very favorable effect on the state of the Sforza castle. The French monarch Louis XII settled in the post of Duke of Milan for quite a long time. Among other innovations is the reorganization of the Sforza Castle from a stronghold of social life into a military fortification. The luxury of the inner halls quickly faded under the onslaught of rough soldier reality. And in 1521, one of the castle towers was destroyed by a powerful explosion of gunpowder stored within its walls.

French rule in Italy was replaced by Spanish rule. Its representatives decided to follow the policy of the former owners regarding Castello Sforzesco. It is for this reason that the fortress walls were taken into an additional ring of defensive ramparts and fortifications. The new defensive line was executed according to the latest military construction in the form of a 12-pointed star.

From now on, about two thousand soldiers were quartered within the walls of the castle. A hospital, canteens and two churches were also organized for the needs of the military. Needless to say, the halls, decorated with frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci himself and other artists, were used as storage rooms.

At the dawn of the 18th century, the power of the Spaniards was replaced by the supremacy of Austria. And little has changed for the Sforza castle, it has remained a large barracks, fortified by the walls of a powerful bastion. Only in 1796 did the Emperor of France, Napoleon, manage to put the Austrians to flight and completely occupy Milan. Bonaparte expected to increase the capacity of the barracks to 4,000, but the local population was categorically against this. For several centuries, Sforza Castle was the focus of the power of foreign invaders; the inhabitants of Milan demanded the complete destruction of the building.

However, the French emperor soon became too busy to solve such problems. In 1799, the combined troops of Russia, England and Austria, led by Suvorov, approached the walls of the Milanese fortress. The talented military leader Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov was able to knock out Napoleon from behind reliable walls. Subsequently, the Russian troops will leave through the Alps, and the city will remain at the mercy of the Emperor of Austria. However, not for long either. Napoleon Bonaparte will be able to take revenge on the outskirts of the city of Marengo. On the conquered territory, the Cisalpine Republic will be proclaimed with its capital in Milan.

Role of Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon had a twofold influence on the Sforza estate. On the one hand, the castle was still mercilessly exploited as a military barracks. Frescoes and other elements of interior decoration were buried under a layer of plaster and whitewash. But, the emperor went to meet the Italians, removing the fortifications that encircled the castle from the time of Spanish dominance.

In order to repair the ruins around Castello Sforzesco, left after the destruction of the defensive walls and ramparts, two Italian architects were brought in. Giovanni Antolini and Luigi Canonica proposed an extensive project that included the creation of a large park with alleys, as well as the erection of several buildings of cultural value. However, from all of the above, it was only possible to plan the territory for the square.

The final collapse of Napoleon and his empire in 1815 untied the hands of the Austrians, which they immediately took advantage of. Lombardy and Venice were again captured, and the long-suffering Milanese castle was again at the disposal. In the next 50 years, the Italians tried to resist the invaders. And once they even succeeded - for 5 days in March 1848, the inhabitants of Milan owned their cities.

The most dramatic events in the history of Sforza Castle unfolded in 1859 after the Austrian troops were forced to leave the Italian lands. The excited population of Milan did not spare the military fortifications of the Austrians, mercilessly swept along the inner perimeter of the fortress with fire and sword. The castle was looted and suffered significant damage.

Unification of Italian lands

The process of Italian reunification (Risorgimento) began in 1861. It was then that the turn came to the famous fortress. The solid age of the building, as well as its significance in the fate of the city, allowed the new rulers of Milan to give the Sforza Castle the status of an architectural monument and a city symbol. That is why the reconstruction of the castle and the restoration of its former beauty received a fairly high priority.

Luca Beltrami was appointed curator of the revitalization of Castello Sforzesco. This architect approached the reconstruction of the castle with all responsibility. Before drawing up a plan for the proposed work, a lot of historical literature and documents relating to the architecture and design of the fortress were studied. Squat towers located in the corners of the fortress walls were taken into work first.

The work began with the restoration of partially damaged walls and ceilings, and the authentic decoration of buildings also returned to their place. In addition, the towers received a new functional load - they turned into reservoirs. Repairs to the castle continued until 1905, although it has been partially accessible to the public since the early 20th century. Since then and to the present time, Sforza Castle has become the property of the city of Milan and its inhabitants.

World War II and restoration

The last destruction hit Sforza in 1943 during the fighting of the Second World War. Air bomb strikes damaged the fortress walls, as well as the Rochetta patio. After the end of the war, the restoration of the castle lasted until 1956. Over the years, scrupulous work has been carried out to restore the destroyed buildings, update the frescoes and interior decoration elements.

Our days

Visitors to Milan who are eager to see the famous Sforza Castle in modern times will find it in the historic heart of the city. Lands that in the distant past were located at the entrance to the city are now surrounded by a ring of newer districts. The space inside the castle walls was paved with a special coating with a geometric pattern. Piazza delle Armi spreads around the castle. For several centuries, it served as a parade ground for soldiers of various armies.

You can get into the courtyard of the fortress through the main gate located in the Filaret tower. The tower itself is a majestic multi-level building with a tetrahedral structure, its height reaches 70 meters. The main tower of the castle is decorated with a bas-relief of the Italian monarch Umberto I. The top of the first tier is decorated with heraldic frescoes and the image of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan.

The second tier of Filareta is crowned with decorative teeth made in the shape of a dovetail. This form indicates that the owners of the castle were in opposition to the views of the Pope. On this tier you can see an old clock called "The Sun of Justice", which remained as a memory of the Visconti family, who laid the first stones in the foundation of the castle.

Today, the castle walls have given a roof to the library and several museums related to the history of Milan and Castello Sforzesco itself. A chic art gallery, a museum filled with exhibits of medieval art, the Archaeological Museum and the Reunification Museum have gained great popularity among tourists. In particular, within the walls of Sforza is the last unfinished sculpture of the famous master Michelangelo - Pieta Rondanini. Also in the courtyard near Filareta is a monument dedicated to Jan Nepomuk, a Czech saint.

Attractions near the Sforza Castle

Outside, the Sforza walls are surrounded by the Sempione Park, built back in 1893. The main park of the city of Milan is divided by cozy alleys and places for recreation, which is why it is very favored not only by tourists, but also by the local population.

The decoration of the park is the Peace Arch, created by order of Napoleon in the 19th century. The memorial was conceived as an analogue of the Arc de Triomphe, installed in Paris.

The French emperor sought to perpetuate his victory in the Apennines. According to the plans of Bonaparte, the solemn entrance to the city was to be carried out through the new, fourteenth gate. For many years there has been a legend that the Arch of Peace and the Arc de Triomphe are located along the same axis, which adds symbolism to the monument in Sempione.

Find a hotel in the center of Milan

Opening hours and ticket prices

Castello Sforzesco is open for daily visits from 7:00 to 19:00 in summer and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter. You can enter the castle grounds absolutely free of charge. But visiting museums has its limitations.

The museums located inside the Sforza are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:30. Major church holidays and Monday are non-working days. A single ticket to the museum costs 3 euros, and a season pass costs 15 euros. There is a system of discounts and a flexible schedule of free visits.

Address how to get there

View in a larger map

Sforza is located at: Milan, Porta Umberto district. You can get to the castle using public transport:

metro line MM1 Cairoli (Cadorna - Cairoli), branch MM2 Cadorna-Lanza (Cadora - Lanza);
buses No. 18, 37, 50, 58, 61, 94;
trams number 1, 2, 4, 12, 14, 19.

↘️🇮🇹 USEFUL ARTICLES AND SITES 🇮🇹↙️ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

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

Throughout its long history, the castle has repeatedly undergone significant transformations. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest strongholds in Europe. Nowadays, Sforza Castle is home to important cultural institutions and tourist sites.

Interesting! The 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, it is more likely that the Kremlin should be called the Moscow Sforza.

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

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

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

Behind the fountain in the form of a cake are the main gates and the main tower of the castle - the tower of Filaret (La torre del Filarete). Torre del Filarete is the highest and perhaps the most impressive castle tower. This multi-tiered quadrangular tower reaches almost 71 meters in height.

The main gate leads to the courtyard of the castle. Inside the castle, everything is strictly and proportionally. Here you can see open areas - three courtyards, the main one is the largest and two smaller ones - Roccetta 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 Museum of the History of the Castle, the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Museum of Furniture and Wooden Sculptures, etc.

Rochchetta (La Rocchetta) - the most impregnable part of the castle, in which you could hide in case of an attack. You can enter Rochetta from the main courtyard of the castle.

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

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

Interior of Rocchetta with the Tower of Bona di Savoia

Ducal court (La Corte Ducale) - the inner part of the castle with greenery and a pool, which is one of the 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 turned into barracks and damaged and altered, nineteenth-century restorations restored the appearance and decorations of the Renaissance.

The rear wall of the court is occupied by the so-called "Portico of the Elephant" (Portico dell "Elefante), supported by stone columns, where there is a faded fresco depicting exotic animals, including a lion and an elephant. This fresco is called the elephant fresco. Currently, there is a tombstone under the portico, in Latin characters, which stood in front of the "Shameful Column" in 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 erected by Galeazzo Visconti. One of the four gates of the castle is located here. The Gate Bridge is called the Ludovico il Moro Bridge (ponticella di Ludovico il Moro) and leads straight to Sempione Park.

Right (northeast) entrance to Sforza Castle

Left (southwest) entrance to Sforza Castle

Opening hours of the Sforza Castle in Milan

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

Friends, hello everyone!

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

The castle is always interesting, especially when it houses a dozen museums. But I have to warn you in advance. If you, like us, have gathered see Milan in 1 day, then you won’t be able to roam much on the territory of the castle.

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

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

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

It cannot be said that what we see today is the original. Too many Italian, Spanish, French and again Italian hands managed to rebuild it. But more on that below.

Today, the castle represents a vast area of interest? both in terms of immersion in the past, and for walks in the fresh air. You can get here in order to walk through the local museums, or you can just walk along its imposing walls and feel the spirit of history.

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

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

Get ready to taste the art en masse. In the meantime, we will move on to the history of the creation of the castle.

History of the Sforza Castle

We will not drag the lineage 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 Duke of Milan Galeazzo II Visconti from the ruling dynasty of Milan at the end of the 14th century conceived the construction of the castle. 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 arranged the castle properly, and the interior painting was entrusted to well-known masters. Among them was the famous Leonardo da Vinci .

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

After the fall of the power of Sforza, she first settled in the castle French King Louis XII followed by the Spanish governors. Attaching defensive importance to the castle, the Spaniards, carried away by the construction of gunpowder 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 World War 2 after the bombardment, the courtyard and part of the fortress walls were damaged.

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

Now, if, all of a sudden, you thought that the narrator is not a fountain out of me or some facts were not enough for you, then contact Veronica for clarifications. She has cheapest tour in Milan according to the main attractions.

Castello Sforzesco and the Moscow Kremlin

In the tourist community, they say that the Sforza Castle was the prototype for the construction of the Moscow Kremlin. A special similarity was achieved in the design of the forms of the towers and the battlements crowning the walls.

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

Spouse Ivan III, who Vasilyevich , Sophia Palaiologos, the niece of the Byzantine emperor, personally begs the Sforza family to let the talented architect Aristotle Fioravanti go to Moscow.

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

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 center line passes. From the east is Fountain in Piazza Castello , and from the western peace arch, created by order of Napoleon and which is an analogue of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Between them is the castle itself and the magnificent Sempione Park .

By the way, tram route number 1, which I mentioned, stops both at the main entrance at the fountain and near the arch. So you can safely go 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 the Hercegic Courtyard, as the ducal chambers were located here.

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

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

Museums in the castle

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

Let's take a look at the terrain a bit. I will use one of the maps given to me at the castle itself.

I will not paint in detail. Otherwise, we will not get by with one article:

Michelangelo Museum - here you can look at the last work of the genius, which remained unfinished: the 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 during his formative years.
Museum of Ancient Art – about 2000 items of an important collection from antiquity and the Middle Ages
Halls with frescoes Leonardo da Vinci himself - once these frescoes adorned many rooms of the castle.
Weapons museum – a collection of weapons from the Middle Ages to the 18th century
Furniture Museum and wooden sculptures - 6 centuries of furniture history from the 15th century to the present day
Art Gallery - one of the main collections of the city, numbering about 1500 paintings
Museum of Decorative Arts - ceramics, sculptures, gold and silver objects.
Museum of Musical Instruments - the second most important collection in Italy
Archaeological Museum
Egyptian Museum - Fundamental aspects of Egyptian civilization: art and artifacts.
Temporary exhibitions : Spanish hospital.

Entrance fees to the castle

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

Reaching the front doors with the keyword "Michelangelo" , we decided to take a look at his latest masterpiece at least with one eye. But everything turned out to be much easier.

A courteous gentleman suggested that we not rummage in the souvenir department, but pay some 5 euros and go to the object. Seeing my dismay, he declared that for these same 5 euro About 10 more museums are waiting for me.

It was here that I spread my wings, and also collected a pack of brochures from the educational corner of the exhibition. Apparently, we will have to linger on the territory of the castle. Do not disappear the 5 euros that we paid for the tickets?

How much does it cost to visit the castle museums

So, after my monologue, you already understood that:

An adult ticket to all museums immediately costs 5 euros
Children's ticket for children under 18 years old costs - 0 euros

If you do not want to pay for a ticket, then come on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month or on the first Sunday. Then you won't need 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. What exactly?

Here, remember:

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

I don't think it's bad. If we had a couple more days to spare, then I would definitely buy such a card.

Official website, opening hours

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

The opening hours of the museum and the castle in general differ.

The castle is open: 07.00 – 19.30
Museums are open: 09.00 – 17.30

Unlike the castle, on Monday 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 walk to it from the same Duomo or La Scala theater. 10 minutes walk along a clear landmark - visible Philaret towers.

From the central railway from the station, you can get here by tram number 1 (an excellent choice) or come by metro. You will need the M2 metro green line and 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 be within easy reach of all the main attractions.

Here is the castle on the maps google maps for reference:

Good to know

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

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

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

Unfortunately, I do not have specific data for this excursion. But I think that Milan guides here will be able to answer your questions.

Tours for May to Italy
Hot tours to Italy

Previous photo Next photo

Not without castles in Milan. The most popular of them is the Sforza Castle, built in the middle of the 15th century. It will be of particular interest to 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 of the Sforza Castle are like two drops of water similar to the Moscow Kremlin.

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

Castle Sforza, or Castello Sforzesco (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, the struggle for power and the tyranny of the Visconti family led to a 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 buildings.

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

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

The new ruler not only undertook 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 former fortress.

Construction was completed in 1452. The appearance of the built castle is reminiscent of the fortress walls and silhouettes of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. This is not an accidental similarity: the Sforza Castle served as a model for Italian architects 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.

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

He also built the central gate tower of the castle. Round corner towers gave the building a finished look and played an important defensive purpose.

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

Castello Sforzesco was mainly used for organizing ceremonial receptions. One of the round towers housed a garrison, mostly archers. Criminals were imprisoned in the underground rooms of the castle.

The Sforza Castle has been repeatedly rebuilt in its subsequent history. Francesco Sforza died in 1466 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 items, expensive jewelry, thoroughbred horses, but continued to live in inappropriate conditions.

Nevertheless, 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 premises appeared in the courtyard.

In the ceremonial halls, expensive decoration was made, elegant furniture was purchased. The murals of that time have largely survived to this day.

When the castle began to correspond to the status of the 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, Giacomino 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 security in Rochetta, which is the most fortified part of the castle, built the highest tower to control the entire area. It was called Torre di Bona, that is, 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 the lands were developed, canals were built, culture and science developed.

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

Ludovico Moro ruled until 1500, when he was defeated in a war with King Louis XII. As a result, he was captured in France. 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 wanted to use the Sforza castle as a real fortress, their outpost in northern Italy.

This had its unfortunate consequences. In 1521, lightning struck the Filarete tower, which caused an explosion of gunpowder stored there, destroying the tower and badly damaging the castle.

New fortifications appeared around Milan, which also covered the castle, then they were replaced by more reliable bastions. The castle housed up to 2,000 soldiers.

The hall with frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci housed a warehouse. According to archival data, the fortress had a hospital, a pharmacy, repair shops, a tavern and two churches.

During the era of the revolutionary Napoleonic Wars in 1796, Napoleon, supported by the locals, retook 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 ongoing hostilities.

To counter 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 of the Adda River and the following battles, in which the French suffered heavy losses, the Russian army opened the road to Milan.

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

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 enthusiastically greeted the Russian army, as, indeed, a few years before they were no less jubilant, welcoming General Bonaparte.

The Russian page in the history of Milan does not end there. Suvorov himself arrived there. Among other events, he was to take part in a solemn service in 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, having entered 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 departure of the allied troops, Milan and Sforza Castle remained in the possession of Austria, but after a few years Napoleon managed to take revenge and restored French control over Italy. During these years, Milan became the capital of the Cisalpine Republic.

The Sforza Castle still remained a barracks, although the fortifications around it were removed and the area was planned for a park. 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 this year that the Italians managed to get rid of the invaders. On the victorious wave, the temperamental Milanese did not spare military fortifications.

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

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

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

As a result, this reconstruction began to be called "philological". In parallel, there was a collection of funds 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. Destroyed buildings were restored, frescoes and interior decoration elements 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 is Castello Square and a fountain, which, without thinking twice, was given the same name - Fontana di Piazza Castello.

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

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