Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of visiting castles and cathedrals, imagining their towering walls and sacred spires whispering tales of knights and saints. On my recent viaggio, that dream came alive as I stepped through the towering gates of the Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress that’s been guarding Milan since the 14th century.
Milan, Italy’s vibrant metropolis where history, fashion, and la dolce vita collide in a symphony of elegance! in the heart of Lombardy, Milan—or Milano, a city that effortlessly blends the charm of its storied past with the pulse of modern innovation.
Castello Sforzesco truly shows beauty. This colossal castello, stretching 200 meters (656 feet) on each side and covering some 40,000 square meters (430,556 square feet), was once the stronghold of the Sforza family, who enlisted Leonardo da Vinci to design its defenses and fresco its halls. Now a cultural tesoro, it buzzes with musei like the Museum of Ancient Art—home to Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini—and the Biblioteca Trivulziana, safeguarding Leonardo’s Codex Trivulzianus. While there’s no full restaurant inside, you can grab a quick caffe or snack at a small cafe on-site, perfect for recharging amid the castle’s vibrant atmosphere.
After sipping a caffè at its quaint courtyard café, I wandered just a short walk away to the beating heart of Milan: the Duomo di Milano. This Gothic masterpiece, with its forest of 135 spires piercing the sky and its intricate marble façade, felt like the cathedral of my childhood fantasies brought to life. Climbing to its rooftop terraces, I gazed out over the city, the golden Madonnina statue glinting above, and saw how these two icons—Castello and Duomo—frame Milan’s soul: one rooted in power and art, the other in faith and beauty. From chic boutiques to creamy risotto alla Milanese, Milan whispers “stile” (style) at every turn, but these landmarks steal the show.
If you’re planning to visit Milano, non perdere (don’t miss) the Castello Sforzesco and the Duomo di Milano—two treasures that make this city an unforgettable destinazione!
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