Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Centro Storico
The pulsating core of Milan is in Centro. Duomo Square is enclosed by the gothic cathedral, the historic icon of Milan. However, shopping is what draws most crowds to this area. The classy and versatile Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II with luxury boutiques and high quality restaurants will turn any shopping or lunch expedition into a royal experience. Head to the rooftop of the flagship La Rinascente to enjoy the view of the animated square with a panorama of the Duomo. The Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the street for high-end shopping. Brands of all kinds and street artists attract the attention of all visitors; while at Via Santa Radegonda 16, Luini Panzerotti is a much appreciated street food shop providing unimaginable culinary experiences. If shopping takes its toll on you, consider visiting Castello Sforzesco, a 15th century castle housing several museums. Those looking to relax can go to Parco Sempione, where nature provides respite from the energy of this dynamic and international city.
How to get there
- Lanza • 4 min walk
- Cadorna • 4 min walk
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7,604 within 5 kms
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2,152 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
13,726 reviews
Excellent
7,733
Very good
4,841
Average
985
Poor
109
Terrible
58
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soinic
Lux.3,078 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
The castle which was rebuilt beginning of the 20th century is in fact a very huge and impressive complex where you can spend hours visiting.
You can walk around/visit the exterior for free, but I'd suggest to buy a (few Euro) ticket which gives you access to ALL the museums inside the castle.
Advice = check before visiting what you want to see, otherwise you might experience kind of "overkill" 😉. Don't miss Michelangelo's last, unfinished piece of art "The Pièta Rondanini".
You can walk around/visit the exterior for free, but I'd suggest to buy a (few Euro) ticket which gives you access to ALL the museums inside the castle.
Advice = check before visiting what you want to see, otherwise you might experience kind of "overkill" 😉. Don't miss Michelangelo's last, unfinished piece of art "The Pièta Rondanini".
Written 26 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter
Glasgow, UK3,288 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
As you can tell from the photos this is a huge complex and you will not see it all.
Why, because some parts close mid day, and you are not told to buy all the “area” tickets you will need.
Actually the complex is geared to staff employment not to tourist satisfaction !
It feels like a Communist state as far as ticket checks go.
Seating, food and toilets (so bad) let this world class collection down badly.
Let me tell you that sculpture, tapestry, musical instruments are show stopping.
I missed out by not having the audio guide.
I can’t think of any other world class Castle collection that just misses the gold star it deserves quite like this.
Why, because some parts close mid day, and you are not told to buy all the “area” tickets you will need.
Actually the complex is geared to staff employment not to tourist satisfaction !
It feels like a Communist state as far as ticket checks go.
Seating, food and toilets (so bad) let this world class collection down badly.
Let me tell you that sculpture, tapestry, musical instruments are show stopping.
I missed out by not having the audio guide.
I can’t think of any other world class Castle collection that just misses the gold star it deserves quite like this.
Written 23 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tess c
Scotland, UK1,004 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This is a medieval castle rebuilt throughout the years.This is a stunning square building.There a water fountain at the front but beware as a lot of pickpockets around this area and are trying to sell you items.The main entrance is free to roam around but actual museum items in the building you need to pay to get into..There is lockers downstairs for large bags to be stored which you need coins for.There is so much items to look at from statues,art,musical instruments,wooden furniture and the building is beautiful too.Takes hours to go round and a lot of stairs everywhere if you have small ones or have older parents.
Opens 7 days from 10am.
Buses 50,57,58,61 ,94
Trams 1,2,4,12,14.
Metro line M1 Cairoli.
Opens 7 days from 10am.
Buses 50,57,58,61 ,94
Trams 1,2,4,12,14.
Metro line M1 Cairoli.
Written 28 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worktotravel14
Trenton, NJ4,502 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
There is something to see in every nook and cranny of Castello Sforzesco. There's also always something to buy at Castello Sforzesco. You can enjoy a range of tours that take you to various areas of the castle. See endless hall of art that harkens back to the middle ages and the age of enlightenment. Walk the upper halls of the castle where you can see views of both modern and old Italy and learn about the Castle's role in protecting Milan. Do go to the museum where Michelangelo's lesser known works are. Enjoy a cocoa or tea at the cafe, where they hustle you in and out ...politely. Though there are many things that do not require payment, you will pay for almost every specialty museum. And this is why I call it Disneyland, because the basic ticket only gets you so far.
Afterwards, enjoy the Parco Sempioni and sit at a cafe and just people watch or walk around the grounds and enjoy your bliss.
Afterwards, enjoy the Parco Sempioni and sit at a cafe and just people watch or walk around the grounds and enjoy your bliss.
Written 3 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist603479
Fuengirola, Spain161 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
The castle is fabulous and it is big. It is free to walk around the outside and the inner grounds to see all the details done to build the castle. Once you view the castle and a very large park sits just behind it too. It was definitely worth seeing it. They have museums exhibits you can see inside for 5 euros which I didn't have time to see.
Written 3 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
futtock21
London, UK17,247 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
It would probably take several days to do justice to all that is on display both outside and within the Sforza Castle complex. It is home to multiple museums and exhibition spaces, all available with a modestly priced admission ticket. The highlights for me were the Musical Instruments Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts especially its ceramics from Roman times to tv twentieth and twenty first centuries, the Pinacoteca (art gallery) showing works from medieval times to the eighteenth century and a room exhibiting what is said to be Michelangelo’s last work the Pietà Rondanini sculpture. I also saw a temporary exhibition of Italian fashion photography.
Written 26 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicholas T
Melbourne, Australia387 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Visited here while in Milan and found it very interesting, though as a non-Italian speaking tourist I would have appreciated more signage in the museum in English. Entry to the castle itself is free - you only have to pay to enter the museum and it’s reasonably priced at E8.00 per person. The park behind the castle is also worth strolling through.
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky B
St Austell, UK32 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Really enjoyed visiting the city especially the Duomo it was amazing!
We also went to the Sforzesco Castle which was free to look around but you had to pay to do the rooftop panoramic walk but great view of the city.
On our last day we took the train to Lake Como and then the ferry to Veranna, the ferry was a great way to see all the fabulous villages surrounding the lake, very picturesque. We then got off and had a look around and visited the monastery & gardens which was just beautiful.
Varenna has a train station which had a direct route back to Milan!
We also went to the Sforzesco Castle which was free to look around but you had to pay to do the rooftop panoramic walk but great view of the city.
On our last day we took the train to Lake Como and then the ferry to Veranna, the ferry was a great way to see all the fabulous villages surrounding the lake, very picturesque. We then got off and had a look around and visited the monastery & gardens which was just beautiful.
Varenna has a train station which had a direct route back to Milan!
Written 10 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R K L
Seattle, WA3,934 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
This 14th century medieval fortress was impressive for its sheer size and interesting just to stroll around. However, it now contained an overwhelming number of separate museums and cultural institutes which made it impossible to navigate or completely experience. The one museum we made certain to seek out and visit contained the unfinished Pieta Rondanini by Michelangelo. He had purportedly been working on it a week prior to his death in 1564. There was otherwise just too much to appreciate.
Written 20 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paolo D
Fossano, Italy1,433 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
If you are in town don't forget to visit the Sforza Castle.
Not far from the Duomo and still the fulcrum of city life also for the presence of valuable museum finds, it is a fundamental stage to understand the development and stratification of power since the time of the Milanese duchy.
From the large courtyard, used for centuries as a square of arms, you can access the various buildings, now museum rooms, leaning against the walls and which in turn hide even more suggestive smaller courts.
Among the sculptures, the famous Pietà Rondanini, the last and suffered work by Michelangelo, is reserved for an entire room and parts of the funeral monument to Gastone de Foix, French leader of the Italian wars, who died in the battle of Ravenna (1512) at just 23 years old, a delicate work by Bambaia. Another tenor, but no less interesting, is the rustic and solid monument to Bernabo' Visconti.
The collection of weapons is valuable, with the spectacular reconstruction of Duke Ludwig the Moor on horseback in parade armor.
Very beautiful tapestries, among which stands out the heavy banner of the city of Milan with the large representation of Bishop Ambrose.
The Pinacoteca, which houses, among other things, some large panels by Canaletto and Bellotto, a Madonna enthroned among the saints of Mantenga, works by Correggio, Tintoretto, Titian as well as the original collection of designer furniture in the section of Applied Arts.
Not far from the Duomo and still the fulcrum of city life also for the presence of valuable museum finds, it is a fundamental stage to understand the development and stratification of power since the time of the Milanese duchy.
From the large courtyard, used for centuries as a square of arms, you can access the various buildings, now museum rooms, leaning against the walls and which in turn hide even more suggestive smaller courts.
Among the sculptures, the famous Pietà Rondanini, the last and suffered work by Michelangelo, is reserved for an entire room and parts of the funeral monument to Gastone de Foix, French leader of the Italian wars, who died in the battle of Ravenna (1512) at just 23 years old, a delicate work by Bambaia. Another tenor, but no less interesting, is the rustic and solid monument to Bernabo' Visconti.
The collection of weapons is valuable, with the spectacular reconstruction of Duke Ludwig the Moor on horseback in parade armor.
Very beautiful tapestries, among which stands out the heavy banner of the city of Milan with the large representation of Bishop Ambrose.
The Pinacoteca, which houses, among other things, some large panels by Canaletto and Bellotto, a Madonna enthroned among the saints of Mantenga, works by Correggio, Tintoretto, Titian as well as the original collection of designer furniture in the section of Applied Arts.
Automatically translated
Written 20 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mi potete dire quanto tempo ci vuole per visitare la parte gratis e quanto per i musei?
Written 29 January 2023
The free part can take you anywhere from 1,5-3 hours. Unfortunately I have no knowledge about the museums.
Written 30 January 2023
I understand the Sala Della Asse is closed for renovation, can you still view it through a window without entering the room? Or can you not see it at all?
Written 23 June 2022
Stefano Barison
Montegrotto Terme, Italy
Il biglietto è meglio comprarlo online oppure si può comprarlo anche lì? Non vorrei fare code infinite. Consigli?
Grazie
Written 11 April 2022
michel camille P
Borgomanero, Italy
Faut il pré réserver notre visite individuelle de 3 seniors vendredi 21 août à partir de 10 h30 . Merci Pion
Written 20 August 2020
Bsr
Pour le château et alentours non
Mais les musées obligatoires ...
Comme tous les autres lieux ou presque à Milan
Et regardez sur le site de chaque visite pour être sûr des horaires et ouvertures ...
Tb belle visite
Written 20 August 2020
Please share castle pictures and does and don’ts
Written 11 February 2020
Hi, the castle is large site of buildings and parks. Leonardo's special, secret routes and of course the archeo museum are good options for a visit (these are permanent exhibitions i guess) - if you are enthusiast of Italian history . There are usually some other special exhibition - it depends on actual events if they are worth visiting them. I have no idea .if there are some donts ..maybe get this highlight by public transfer, a traffic arround this site is a bit complicated for cars.
Written 12 February 2020
Hi @Mairwen 1 Do you know what the tour is called or where it can be booked?
Written 13 October 2019
We just went early in the morning and purchased our at the ticket office. It is best to go early. It starts getting crowded around midday
Written 14 October 2019
Kuznetsova Alena
St. Petersburg, Russia
Здравствуйте! А вход на территорию тоже закрывается с закрытием музея?
Written 28 April 2019
Добрый день, Алёна! Вход на территорию музея свободный)
Written 29 April 2019
Buongiorno,
Volevo chiedere se l'ingresso al castello è gratuito, è cosa si può visitare gratuitamente del castello stesso!
Mentre l'ingresso a pagamento cosa permette di vedere? Per chi l'ha già visto cosa consigliate? Grazie
Written 6 December 2018
L'ingresso all'interno è a pagamento, noi abbiamo girato solo fuori, ma mi consigliarono o la sala egiziana.
Written 8 December 2018
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