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Location:
Europe,
Italy, Milan
Category:
Famous Landmark
Description:
View from Piazza Castello
Sforzesco, Milan
Location Information:
Castello Sforzesco is a castle in
Milan, Italy, that used to be the
seat and residence of the ruling
family of Milan and now houses
several of the city's museums and
art collections.
The original construction on the
site began in the 14th century. In
1450, Francesco Sforza began
reconstruction of the castle, and it
was further modified by later
generations. A number of these rooms
originally had elaborate internal
decoration - the best known of these
being the Sala Delle Asse with
surviving ceiling paintings by
Leonardo da Vinci
After the French victory in the 1515
Battle of Marignano, the defeated
Massimiliano Sforza, his Swiss
mercenaries and the cardinal-bishop
of Sion retreated into the Castello
Sforzesco. However, King Francis I
of France followed them into Milan,
and his sappers placed mines under
the castle's foundations, whereupon
the defenders submitted.
After the unification of Italy in
the 19th century, the restoration of
the castle was started following its
transfer from military use to the
city of Milan. The restoration work
was directed by Luca Beltrami. The
central Filarete tower above the
main city entrance was rebuilt
between 1900 and 1905 as a monument
to King Umberto I
Local
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