Musei dei Castello (Museums in the Sforzesco Castle), Northeast Milan

Musei dei Castello (Museums in the Sforzesco Castle), Northeast Milan

A top curator, art historian & museographer have joined forces to create innovative exhibits

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The Castello Sforzesco incorporates a whole host of museums inside with exhibitions that range from prehistoric and Egyptian archaeological materials to paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, manuscripts, furniture, musical instruments, stamps, coins, medals and much more.

Perhaps the most important of all of them is the pinacoteca. Along with the Ambrosiana and Brera galleries, the Pinacoteca di Castello houses Milan's most important paintings. The gallery was created to display Milanese art and holds several old and prominent collections, including that of the Trivulzio family. Acquisitions by the city government, as well as contributions from illustrious citizens, patriots, scholars and art lovers over the last two centuries have enhanced the collection.

In a bold layout, various masterpieces are now exhibited with works of art other than painting. Medallions, wooden bas-reliefs and terracotta and marble sculptures have been grouped with the paintings for comparison. Masterpieces by Mantegna, Antonello di Messina, Cesare da Sesto, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Tintoretto and Cerano are among the exhibits.

There is a gift and book shop, as well as a cafe in the castle.

Watch out for

Some of the unmissable masterpieces on show at these museums are Michelangelo's unfinished Pieta Rondanini and Leonardo Da Vinci's Sala delle Asse, as well as his Codex Trivulziano

Visitor comments

"The castle itself is already breathtaking but inside it hosts several museums that are just as amazing with a vast collection including paintings, furniture expositions, sculpture (among those the last work of Michelangelo), archeology and more. Definitely worth he 5 Euro admittance ticket, you won't regret it. Only plan ahead since this place will easily take you a full day to explore." - Trip Advisor
"12 museums to explore, but main attractions are Michelangelo's Unfinished Rondanini Pieta and the Egyptian exhibit" - Trip Advisor
"This is a large, magnificent art museum with some wonderful exhibits mostly from Lombardy, but the mixture is amazing. There is furniture, sculpture, paintings, diptychs, frescoes and decorative arts. One could spend a day here and still not see everything. It is a must see for any one interested in art, history and Italy." - Trip Advisor