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In 1893, the architect Luca Beltrami saved Castello Sforzesco from destruction by fully restoring it to its former glory.
Castello Sforzesco dates from the 15th century when Francesco Sforza started rebuilding the castle in 1450 a top of an older castle which was built by Galeazzo II during the later half of the 1300’s. In 1499, the dukedom of Milan was being disputed by the king of France, the German emperor and members of the Sforza family. These disputes lead to the castle becoming involved in countless attempts by the foreign powers to gain control of the city of Milan. Between 1515 and 1534, the French under Francesco I of Angouleme held control of the castle and the dukedom of Milan. It was back in the hands of the Sforza family for only a short period of time when in November of 1534, Francesco Sforza left the dukedom and castle to the emperor Charles V of Spain. In 1549, the Spanish started a massive rebuilding program which saw Castello Sforzesco turned into a fortified citadel. By the early 1700’s the Spanish were ousted and a new era of ownership was about to begin. The Austrian’s remained occupiers of the castle and the dukedom of Milan until 1859, when the province of Lombardia was unified with the Kingdom of Sardinia. During this transition the castle was attacked and looted by the local citizens who stripped the castle of all its furniture, arms and provisions. In 1893, the architect Luca Beltrami saved the castle from destruction by fully restoring it to its former glory. The restoration work lasted until 1903 and now houses a museum.
Tourist InformationOpening hours: daily from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.Free admission (except for castle museums) Closed on: December 25, January 1, May 1, August 15 Public transport: Underground: MM1 Cadorna, Cairoli - MM2 Cadorna, Lanza Buses: 43, 50, 57, 58, 61, 70, 94 Trams: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14, 20, 27 INFORMATION: tel. (+39) 02/88463700 CASTLE MUSEUM Closed on Mondays ticket office: tel. (+39) 02/88463703 Booking required for schools Visiting hours: 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. (admission until 5 p.m.) full price ticket € 3.00 half-price ticket € 1.50 full price season ticket € 15.00 half-price season ticket € 7.50 Free admission: for children under 18 Half-price admittance: for municipal employees, University students and students from Academies of Fine Arts, over 65. Free admittance: Fridays, from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. - Tuesday through Thursday and on weekends, from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. (admittance until 5 p.m.)
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