The treasures of the Castello Sforzesco.
Museum hours: 9:00 - 17:30
Duration: 2-3 hours
Availability: every day
Meeting time: on request
The splendid Via Dante with its many bars and shops takes us to the Sforzesco Castle. Its solid, looming silhouette
can already be seen from afar. Coming closer, behind the sparkling fountain, the awe-inspiring fortress resolves
into a myriad of wide courtyards and residential buildings. In the 15th century, Castello Sforzesco was the residence
of the mighty Sforza dukes and now it is home to some of Milan's finest museums: the Pinacoteca (paintings
gallery) and Furniture Collection, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Museum of Egiptian Art, Museum of
Decorative Art,Museum of Classical Art and the Sculpture Gallery. One can even find
some mummies in the archeological museum! Much of the original art and
architecture withstood the dark forces of occupation and miraculously escaped destruction. Even today, we can still
enjoy Leonardo da Vinci's intriguing "painted garden" in the Sala delle Asse ... Bramante's
elegant Rocchetta Courtyard, reminiscent of the Versailles Palace ... and what to think of Michelangelo's final
work, the heartbreaking Rondanini Pieta, on which - unbelievably - the artist was even working the week he died.
Without doubt Michelangelo's Rondanini Pieta is one of the greatest masterpieces of the Sforza Castle.
It represents an unique event in the artistic life of one of the greatest artistic geniuses of all time. The parts
of the sculpture are clearly finished i.e. the polished legs of the Christ figure, the right arm detached from the body and
part of the Virgin face. The fact that rest of the sculpture is only sketched with clearly identifiable replacements
in the lower part
of the Pieta and the position of the Christ's head allow us to conclude that Michelangelo revisited the composition
of the group several times. Made for Rondanini family (from which the sculpture takes its commonly accepted name)
it never reached it final destination in their Roman palazzo.
As the inventory made next day after his death shows, Michelangelo kept this unfinished work in his home.
Our guide will show you all faces of this truly exceptional treasure trove of art and culture. He will tell you the stories
of the people that dwelled here in centuries past. You will hear about the castle's mysteries, its history, its legends
and its secrets (yes, like, any self-respecting castle, Castello Sforzesco has its secret, too!). And afterwards, you can
linger in the shadow of the marvelous fountain in front of the castle or drink an espresso in one of the small, cosy
bars on the piazza, and savour this unforgettable experience.
Want to learn more about treasures of the Castello Sforzesco, join one of our tours.
