Museo de la Pietà Rondanini

Museo de Arte Antiguo

Filarete Tower and Armoury Courtyard

Main entrance of the castle. The tower was commissioned by Francesco Sforza from architect Filarete in 1452, rebuilt by Beltrami in 1905 after the 1521 explosion. The courtyard houses Roman sarcophagi (3rd-4th c.) and Renaissance facades from demolished Milanese palaces.

Rocchetta and Bona di Savoia Tower

The Rocchetta is the fortress within the fortress, impregnable refuge of Bona di Savoia after the assassination of her husband Galeazzo Maria Sforza in 1476. Her tower, built to control the entire building, also served as a prison. The inner courtyard preserves capitals with Visconti and Sforza heraldry.

Ducal Court — Sforza Residence

Residential heart of the castle. Portico designed by Benedetto Ferrini (1473) with Sforza 'elephant' frescoes. Galeazzo Maria Sforza's ducal apartments spread across the ground and first floors, with a ramp low enough to ride on horseback. Today houses the Museum of Ancient Art.

Spanish Hospital

Building in the Cortile delle Armi transformed into a military hospital by the Spanish castellan Sancho de Guevara y Padilla. Decorated in 1576 with garlands, apostles and Spanish Royal House emblems. Today houses Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini Museum.

Sala delle Asse (Leonardo da Vinci)

The most important Leonardo da Vinci work in Milan after The Last Supper. Vault simulating a pergola of 18 intertwined trees painted c.1498 for Ludovico il Moro in the Falconiera Tower. Rediscovered in 1893-94. Monochrome murals on walls with roots among rocks.

Ducal Chapel

Chapel built in 1473 for Galeazzo Maria Sforza (Ferrini and Gadio, frescoes by Bonifacio Bembo). Built urgently to house 22 singers chosen from courts across Europe. Risen Christ on vault, tomb guards in comical poses — original and unusual iconography.

Treasury Room — Bramantino's Argus

Castellana Tower: room where the Sforzas kept documents and jewels. Fresco by Bramantino (1489-91) with hundred-eyed Argus as mythical guardian of the treasury. One of the masterpieces of early Lombard Renaissance, commissioned by Ludovico il Moro.

Ludovico il Moro's Little Bridge

Building over the moat attributed to Bramante. In January 1497 Ludovico il Moro shut himself here in mourning for the sudden death of his wife Beatrice d'Este — he called them 'salette nere' in his letters. Leonardo was planned for the decoration. Nine months later, Milan would fall to Louis XII of France.

Covered Road and the Ghirlanda

Underground brick passage (vault at 2.80m) running along the moat's counterscarp, with multiple branches allowing soldiers to move from castle to Ghirlanda unseen. Small windows over the moat for marksmen. Visitable. Defensive system of Francesco Sforza (1450-1466).

Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco

Seven rooms with Lombard painting from the 14th to 18th century: Mantegna, Bellini, Lotto, Tintoretto, Canaletto. Includes the 'Camera picta' with Stories of Griselda (c.1460) and Bramantino's Trivulzio Tapestries, among the finest of the Italian Renaissance.