Museum of Musical Instruments, Musical instrument museum in Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy
The Museum of Musical Instruments is a museum inside Sforza Castle in Milan, displaying around 700 instruments that span five centuries of European music. The collection covers a wide range, from Renaissance string and wind instruments to early keyboards and historic organs.
The museum opened in 1958 inside Sforza Castle, which had already been home to civic collections for decades. In 2000, a donation of nearly 80 instruments from a private collection added depth to the holdings.
The collection emphasizes instruments from the Lombardy region, including Cremona violins and hunting horns crafted by Italian makers. These pieces reflect the area's deep connection to European musical traditions and instrument-making heritage.
Entry to the museum is included with access to Sforza Castle, and free entry is available during certain afternoon hours. Allow enough time to move through the rooms, as instruments are displayed at different heights and spread across several areas.
Part of the collection comes from the former electronic music studio of Milan's RAI radio station, founded in the 1950s. These devices sit alongside Renaissance lutes and baroque violins, making the timeline of music-making visible in a single visit.
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