Sforza Castle Civic Museums, Art and history museums in Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy
Sforza Castle contains museum galleries with artworks and historical objects spread across two levels. The collections feature paintings, sculptures, Egyptian artifacts, ceramics, and bronze pieces from different periods.
The civic collections were formed from the 19th century and are housed in the Sforza Castle. The museum layout was designed by the Milanese firm BBPR in two phases: the Ducal Courtyard between 1954 and 1956, and the Rocchetta Courtyard in 1963. Restoration of the castle was completed in 2015.
The museum holds Michelangelo's final sculpture, the Pietà Rondanini, offering visitors a direct encounter with one of history's greatest artists. Alongside it, the painting gallery displays Italian works spanning centuries and shows how artistic styles changed over time.
The ground floor of the Ducal Court holds the Museum of Ancient Art, while the upper floor leads to the Pinacoteca; the lower level connects to the archaeological and prehistoric museums. The courtyard's left-hand staircase serves the upper museums, and the rear staircase leads to those below. The Rivellino del Santo Spirito walkway crosses the outer walls and rooftops.
In the courtyard, the Portico dell'Elefante, built by Benedetto Ferrini in 1473, keeps a frescoed elephant; only the hind paws remain of the lion that once accompanied it. Under the portico lies a plaque from a Porta Ticinese house where alleged plague spreaders were executed in 1630.
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