The Fontana di Piazza Castello sits at the center of a wide stone expanse, defined by its layered, circular granite basins and the steady, upward spray of water. It was designed by the architect Gianni Mezzanotte and installed in nineteen…
Castello Sforzesco Grand Gardens
This walk traces the footprints of the Sforza dukes from their massive brick fortress into the sprawling, peaceful lawns of Parco Sempione. You will experience Milan's powerful Renaissance legacy while wandering through ancient moats, ducal courtyards, and neoclassical monuments.
Listen to this tour in the Mira app →
1. Piazza Castello Fountain
2. Filarete Tower
The Filarete Tower rises as a massive brick gatehouse topped by a clock and a statue of Saint Ambrose, piercing the skyline of the Castello Sforzesco. Francesco Sforza commissioned it in the fourteen fifties to serve as the main entrance…
3. Ducal Court
The Ducal Court, or Corte Ducale, forms the heart of the Castello Sforzesco with its elegant porticoed courtyard and terracotta window frames. This square served as the private residence for the Sforza dukes during the fifteenth century.…
4. Cortile della Rocchetta
The Cortile della Rocchetta features terracotta medallions set into its brick walls, tracing the lineage of the Sforza dukes. This courtyard served as the inner sanctum of the Castello Sforzesco, protected by a fortified keep. In fourteen…
5. Bridge of the Little Mermaids
The Bridge of the Little Mermaids is a small, cast-iron structure spanning a narrow canal in Parco Sempione. It features four zinc statues of sirens perched on the corners, their tails intricately curled against the metal railings.…
6. Arena Civica Gianni Brera
The Arena Civica features tall stone walls built from the ruins of the Spanish fortifications that once guarded Milan. Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned the structure in eighteen oh five as a miniature circus for mock naval battles and…
7. Arco della Pace
The Arco della Pace stands out with its heavy marble facade and the massive bronze chariot, or sesta, crowning the top. Napoleon commissioned this arch in eighteen oh seven to celebrate his victories, intending for the road to lead…