The museums of Castello Sforzesco, one by one
Museum of Ancient Art and Armoury
It’s the longest route and the one through the ducal halls. Sculptures from late antiquity to the 16th century; the equestrian funeral monument of Bernabò Visconti by Bonino da Campione, the first thing you encounter and no one expects it to be so large; the Ducal Chapel with Bonifacio Bembo’s frescoes; the Treasury Room with the Argo attributed to Bramante and Bramantino; the Trivulzio Tapestries of the Months, also by Bramantino; and the Armory, which children love more than everything else combined. The Sala delle Asse by Leonardo is part of this route and is closed for restoration: the museum has organized scaffold visits in the past, but don’t count on it.
Pietà Rondanini Museum
Since 2015, the Pietà has had its own museum in the former Ospedale Spagnolo, on the other side of Piazza d’Armi from the ducal halls. Unfinished marble, elongated figures, the last work Michelangelo laboured on, just days before his death in February 1564, when he was nearly 90. The sculpture, and what a guide adds to it. If you have an hour, this is where to spend it.
Picture Gallery
On the upper floors of the Corte Ducale. The Trivulzio Madonna by Mantegna, Antonello da Messina, Filippo Lippi, Correggio, Tiepolo, and city views by Canaletto and Bellotto. It’s a picture gallery for an hour, not a day—and that’s a virtue.
Decorative Arts, Furniture and Wooden Sculptures, Musical Instruments
Three museums that most visitors rush through, yet they deserve more attention if you’re interested in objects: ceramics, glass, ivory and goldwork in Decorative Arts; the Furniture Museum with its wooden sculptures; and the musical instrument collection, which private guides always mention because it’s so impressive.
Archaeological Museum: Prehistory and Egyptian Museum
In the basements of the Corte Ducale. The Egyptian Museum is children’s favorite section after the Armory, and the Civic Museums shop notes that booking is recommended for the Egyptian gallery. The Prehistory and Protohistory section has been reported as closed for works: check first at the Info Point or online.
There’s no café inside the museums, and you can’t freely move between different routes as in a single museum: check the map at the entrance and decide your order in advance, with the Pietà Rondanini at the top.
What is not a museum
Biblioteca Trivulziana, Archivio Storico Civico, Raccolta Bertarelli, Archivio Fotografico, Gabinetto dei Disegni: they are housed in the castle but are institutions for scholars. What’s inside, in brief.
With a ticket or with a guide
Tickets are sold at the door and don’t sell out; free for under 18s, for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, and for under 25s on the second Tuesday. Online options add two things the ticket office doesn’t: an audio guide in the app or a guide. For an up-close look at the museums, the latter is worth more than the former. The two ticket options, explained.
Small group · 5 languagesMilan: Castello Sforzesco and Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini tour
Private · 2 to 5 hoursMilan: private skip-the-line tour of Castello Sforzesco and its museums
Museum ticket + audioguide appMilan: Castello Sforzesco entry ticket with digital audio guide
Guided tours with a certified guide
One and a half hours in a small group with headsets, from the Pietà Rondanini to the courtyards, museum ticket included, in five languages.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ticket cover all the museums?
Yes, one ticket covers all the museums and exhibitions in the castle for a single day. There’s also an Open ticket valid for twelve months. Tickets, explained.
Which museum to see if I have little time?
The Pietà Rondanini, then the Museum of Ancient Art with the Armory. Both can be done in an hour and a half. Time needed for each itinerary.
Do I need to book for the Egyptian Museum?
The Civic Museums shop recommends booking for the Egyptian gallery; for the other museums, no. The Prehistory section has been reported as closed for works, so check first at the Info Point.
Are the museums open on Monday?
No. Museums are closed on Monday, December 25, January 1, and May 1; the courtyards remain open. All opening hours.