Sforza Castle (Milan)

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

In the Italian city of Milan is the Sforza Castle, whose dramatic centuries-old history is connected with ups and downs, destruction and restoration. Thanks to the efforts of Italian restorers and architects, today everyone has the opportunity to admire the ancient towers and fortress walls, walk around the castle.

How it all began

Like many other architectural monuments, Castello Sforzesco, as the Italians themselves call this castle, stands on the site of quite ancient buildings. The very first defensive structure was erected here in the 14th century by the Visconti family, who managed to take power in Milan into their own hands for a long time, and later to subjugate most of the nearby cities.

Gianu Galeazzo I Visconti managed not only to extend his influence to such cities of central Italy as Siena and Pisa, but also to buy a ducal title for himself and his own heirs. His descendants failed to annex new lands to the Duchy of Milan. As a result of many military conflicts with Venice inAt the beginning of the 15th century, Milan, a city-state, lost many conquered territories.

After the death in 1447 of the last member of the Visconti family - Duke Filippo Maria - the rebellious inhabitants of the city proclaimed the Ambrosian Republic and dismantled the castle of the hated rulers.

Construction stages

But the further affairs of this republic went rather badly, and as a result of the hostilities of the Venetians, Milan lost a significant part of its territories. The inhabitants of the city began to look for a strong leader and invited a military mercenary, Francesco Sforza, who had previously served with the Visconti and became related to this family. In 1450, the senate of Milan presented him with the title of duke. In the same year, Francesco Sforza began to build his Milanese castle, conceived as an exquisite and luxurious ducal residence, but also as a powerful defensive structure. To implement this plan, such well-known architects of that time as Antonio Filarete, Bartolomeo Gadio, Marcoleone da Nogarolo, Jacopo da Cortona and many others were invited. Under the leadership of the first of them, the central tower was erected, but Bartolomeo Gadio was responsible for the construction of massive protective walls and four corner defensive towers.

In 1446, Francesco Sforza died, and his eldest son, Galeazzo Maria (Galeazzo Maria Sforza), became the ruler of Milan. Under him, the Sforza castle continues to develop, and the new duke sends architects and craftsmen from Florence to Milan to carry out construction work. Aftermurder of Galeazzo in 1467, his wife Bona of Savoy, trying to protect herself, builds Bona's tall tower at that time - Torre di Bona in Rochetta - the most protected part of the castle.

The era of the Italian wars

Lodovico Maria Sforza, who came to power in 1494, continues to rebuild Sforza Castle in Milan and invites the best Italian masters for this - Bramante, who became the author of many architectural and decorative elements, and Leonardo da Vinci, who worked on defensive structures and created a series frescoes.

In 1500, during one of the Italian wars between the Empire and France, the troops of King Louis XII entered Milan and captured Ludovico Sforza. He was taken to France, where he died.

The Sforza Castle was severely damaged in 1521, when lightning struck the central tower of Filarete, used at that time as an ammunition depot.

Spanish Time

The Spaniards, who owned Milan in the middle of the 16th century, significantly modernized the castle. They built new modern fortifications in the form of a six-pointed star around the old walls, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich was approximately 26 hectares. The city governor moved to the Royal Palace, and a military garrison settled in the castle. After the crushing defeat of the troops of King Francis I at Pavia, thanks to the support of the emperor and the Spanish king Charles V, the Sforza family returns to power. Francesco II becomes Duke of Milan.

Austrian domination

After his death in 1534Francesco II Maria Sforza, the Austrian Habsburg Empire annexes the Duchy of Milan and appoints a governor to govern it. During the reign of the Austrians, Sforza Castle was used as an armory and a soldier's barracks. Some of the buildings on its territory were restored or rebuilt. The most visible trace of the Habsburg period is the statue of John of Nepomuk on the bridgehead.

Napoleonic time

After Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy in 1796, Austria, having concluded a peace agreement at Campo Formio, had to abandon Lombardy. General Bonaparte chose Milan as his city of residence for five whole years: from 1796 to 1801. Despite the petitions of the townspeople who demanded the complete demolition of the castle, Napoleon orders restoration work to be carried out in it. Until the defeat of the French troops in 1814, Milan would be the capital of various states created in Italy by Napoleon.

According to the results of the all-European conference in Vienna, the city again went into Austrian possession and became the center of the new Lombardo-Venetian kingdom. In 1848, during the Five Milan Days, when the rebels were fighting for independence from the Austrian invaders, the cannons of the Sforza Castle hit Milan. The uprising was crushed, and all its participants were arrested and imprisoned.

In 1859, the Austrians left Lombardy, and the locals captured and plundered the castle, after which it fell into disrepair.

Modern history

Many residents of Milan at the end of the 19th century demanded that this castle in Italy be destroyed, wiped off the face of the earth and erected in its place something more useful, such as an elite residential area. Fortunately, the fortress was decided not to be demolished, but, on the contrary, to be restored. The restoration of the castle in 1893 was started by the architect Luca Beltrami, who sought to recreate the historical appearance of the buildings during the reign of Sforza. In 1905, the restored Filarete Tower was opened, and on the other side of the castle, the Sempione Park was laid.

During the bombing of World War II, many architectural monuments were damaged, including Castello Sforzesco, especially Rochetta. By the end of the 50s of the last century, the castle was restored and opened to the public.

The last change in the appearance of the fortress was a large fountain in its inner square, nicknamed the "Wedding Cake" by the Milanese and built to replace the old one, demolished during the construction of the subway in the 60s of the XX century.

Architecture

The modern Sforza Castle is a square-shaped building, in the center of which is Piazza delle Armi. It is surrounded by massive walls, and the central gate is built in the form of a square multi-tiered tower - Filaret, which at one time served as the prototype of the Spasskaya Tower in the Moscow Kremlin. To the right and left of it are the corner round towers - di Santo Spirito and dei Carmini.

After passing through the main entrance to the Filarete tower, we get to Piazza delle Armi and can see the tower located onsite of the Porta Giovia gate. To the right of it are the ducal chambers, and to the left - the most fortified part of the castle - Rochetta. It has its own small courtyard, as well as two rather high towers: Torre Castellana (Castle) and Bona of Savoy tower. On the ground floor of the Torre Castellana is a treasury where you can see the surviving frescoes of Bramantino.

Inside the ducal apartments, a small area is allocated, surrounded by a portico, known today as the "Portico of the Elephant" (Portico dell'Elefante), so named because of the fresco depicting this animal.

Castle Museums

Arriving in ancient Milan, the sights on the map that I would like to visit can be explored endlessly.

But you should opt for the Sforza Castle: it is a historical monument, as well as a place where many museums are concentrated. Among them - an art gallery, the Museum of Ancient Art, a collection of musical instruments, a collection of medieval tapestries and many other exhibitions. Having entered the castle for free, you can buy a single ticket to visit all museums or separately for each exhibition you are interested in.