Sforza Castle

The Visconti built a fortress here in the fourteenth century, the Ambrosian Republic tore it down, and Francesco Sforza rebuilt it from 1450 as a ducal residence; Leonardo worked on decoration including the Sala delle Asse, whose ceiling is painted as an interlaced canopy of mulberry branches. The castle now holds several municipal museums. Among them is the Rondanini Pietà, Michelangelo's last sculpture, worked on until days before his death in 1564 and left unfinished, with an earlier arm still attached beside the reworked figures; it is displayed alone in a former hospital hall inside the walls.

What you actually see

• The Rondanini Pietà - Michelangelo's last, unfinished sculpture.
• The Sala delle Asse - Leonardo's painted canopy of interlaced branches.
• The courtyards - free open spaces inside the ducal walls.
• The museums - antiquity, furniture, arms and painting collections.

When to go

Year-round; museums close Mondays while the courtyards stay open. The park behind, Parco Sempione, extends the visit. Free entry applies at certain times.

Honest expectations

The Sala delle Asse has been under restoration with limited or partial access for extended periods. Museums are many and uneven; the castle rewards selective visiting.

Nearby

The Last Supper lies west; the Brera gallery is northeast.