- TURY.CLUB
- Tourist Objects
- Italy
- Milano
- Sforzesco Castle
Sforzesco Castle has a long and rich history. He managed to visit a military fortress, a ducal residence and a museum. The castle was built in 1368 by the ruler of Milan Galeazzo II Visconti. The castle was to become a well-fortified fortress and a dynastic residence. Under the last representative of the Filippo dynasty, Maria Visconti, the power of the Dukes of Milan weakened, many annexed lands rebelled against Visconti. Having no male heir, Filippo Maria passes off her daughter Bianca for the influential Milan commander Francesco Sforza. Three years after the death of Filippo, Francesco Sforza seizes power in Milan and declares himself the ruler of Milan. Sforza decided to reconstruct the castle belonging to his predecessors. Massive walls were built, on the four corners of which defensive towers were built. The walls were equipped with loopholes and gun holes. The facade was decorated with a coat of arms with the initials of the new owner - FR. A prisoner’s cell was built inside one of the towers; numerous tunnels were dug, which stretched several kilometers outside the castle. In 1455, two cylindrical towers were built. Galeazzo Maria, son of Francesco Sforza, paid great attention to the arrangement of internal premises, hiring the architect Ferrini for this. The new duke wanted the chambers of the castle to be struck with magnificence and luxury. Under Jan Galeazzo Sforza, a central tower was built, named after him. At the end of the 15th century, Louis Moreau became the owner of the castle. He was famous for his love of art and science, was a famous philanthropist. Under him, the Sforzesco Castle became more a cultural center, downplaying its military-defensive purpose. Louis Moreau, being the patron saint of Leonardo da Vinci, invites him to design the interior chambers of the castle. Unfortunately, only one creation of Leonardo has survived to this day - a fresco on the ceiling of the hall. Only sketches of flags for the high tower of the observatory and drawings of unusual domed churches in the corner towers were preserved, and the clay model of the equestrian monument of Francesco Sforza was destroyed by French soldiers. The arrangement of the inland was entrusted to Donato Bramante. The Italian wars began in 1494, Milan fell in front of the French king Louis XII, and the castle turned into an ordinary fortification: new fortifications are being built, luxurious ducal chambers are used as barracks and military depots. On June 28, 1521, the Philaret’s tower was destroyed by an explosion - the warehouse of gunpowder, which the French organized in the tower, exploded. From the middle of the 16th century to the end of the 18th century, the castle was ruled by Spaniards and Austrians. Under Napoleon, the castle was almost demolished, there was a decree dated June 23, 1800 on the demolition of the "useless fortress". However, in the end, the citadel decided to leave in place. Towards the end of the 18th century, the Sforzesco Castle had a miserable appearance: the walls in some places began to collapse, despondency and desolation reigned everywhere. For another whole hundred years, no one was engaged in the castle, it became more and more dilapidated. After the liberation of Italy from occupation, cities, including Milan, began to develop rapidly. In 1893, the municipality allocated funds for the reconstruction of the historical monument Sforzesco Castle. The restoration of the castle was led by architect Beltrami. The renewed Sforzesco has become a major center of culture and art of Milan, one of the most popular and visited attractions of the city. The castle houses the Museum of Ancient Art, Art Gallery, Museum of Applied Art, Museum of Musical Instruments, Egyptian Museum, Museum of the Prehistoric Period, Visconti Hall, Museum of Iconography.
