Castello Sforzesco

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Castello Sforzesco is one of the landmarks in Milan.  It is a witness of the history.  It was founded  by the Visconti family.  The size of the castle reached 180m x 180m.  A tower stands at each of the four corners.  It was demolished after the last decendent had died.   But it was rebuilt after three years by general Francesco Sforza who married Visconti's illegitimate daughter.  The next heir transformed the castle into a luxury residence.  Thereafter, it fell into hands of different nations: French, Spanish, Austrian.  Only with the unification of Italy in 1861, the castle could recover its cultural an public functions.  Apart from as a key sightseeing point, it is also a transit point of getting through from one to another direction of the city.

It houses many art treasures in its several museums.  With 3 Euro you can appreciate them in a day.  Fabulous!

Ancient Art

This section houses lots of stone sculptures of the ancient time.  The most striking one is the sheer sized general on a horse.  A dying young soldier is peaceful yet melancholic.  The one remains my favourite is Michelangelo's incomplete Pieta.   It is rough and raw but still shows the sadness, unwillingness to separate.  This Pieta is very different from his other piece shown in the Vatican which is delicate and desperate.















Pinacoteca

It stores over 200 of masterpieces from great artists of different periods.


















Furnishing and Wooden Sculpture, 15th - 21st century











I was amazed by some of the furniture pieces.  They were old but have modern looks.  I will be happy if I have a similar desk in my office like the one shown on the left .  Home?  No space!  The colourful cupboard is also nice.  Decorative arts in the exhibition room are of excellent quality. 




















Collection of Applied Arts and Musical Instruments























Applied and decorative arts have a bit overlap, in my opinion.  Whatever it is defined, the excellent craftsmanship cannot be denied.  The exquisite ivory jewellery box and sculpture, fine porcelain, beautiful cutlery and many many still......

Unfortunately, we were short of time and had to leave out the  Egyptian and Prehistorical section of the Archaeological Museum and Sala Viscontea.

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