Symbol of the Milanese Renaissance, the Sforza Castle was built between 1300 and 1400 with a mainly defensive function. Today, it houses the Civic Museums, which preserve works by Bellini, Antonello da Messina, and Mantegna, but also the Egyptian Museum, the  Museum of Ancient Art, the Pietà Rondanini, Michelangelo's famous unfinished sculpture, the Pinacoteca, and the Sala delle Asse by Leonardo da Vinci. To not miss the majestic internal courtyard of the Castle.

A castle in the middle of the fields of the Serio Park, in the Bergamo area, built in the mid-1300s. It was commissioned as a private residence in 1456 by the leader Bartolomeo Colleoni, captain general of the Republic of Venice. The Castle became his home, is still considered one of the most exclusive buildings in Lombardy, thanks to its rooms frescoed by local and French masters, shady loggias, its ornate coffered ceilings, and fireplaces that are still working.

It’s an excellently preserved medieval fortress from which to enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the city. Located on the Cidneo hill, a hill near the historic center, it can be reached both on foot and by car. The second largest fortified complex in Europe, it witnessed the communal period and the Visconti domination. Admire its Keep, the mighty Tower of the Prisoners, the massive ramparts, and the Mirabella Tower, the last memory of the church of Santo Stefano in Arce. The Castle was also the first public astronomical observatory in Italy

It’s a splendid 18th-century patrician residence, a veritable living museum of art and tradition, which is an important and precious testimony of the opulent world of Lombard and Venetian nobility. The scenic Baroque courtyard, the large frescoed halls in the style of the Tiepolo school, the elegance of the stucco work and decorations, the dominant tower with its massive turreted structure, all immersed in a gentle rural setting, make this monument one of the most important historical residences in Italy.

Built in 1360 by Galeazzo Visconti as the residence of his court, the Castle is now home to the Civic Museums.   In addition to the collections, the internal loggia and the pointed mullioned windows that open into the facades are also worth a visit.

The walls of the Castle of San Giorgio recall Isabella d'Este as the First Woman of the Renaissance, gifted with taste and a deep humanistic education, an astute chess player. In the Castle where he lived for a long time, he hosted Leonardo, Perugino, Titian, Raphael and Mantegna. Its most precious treasure is the Bridal Chamber painted by Mantegna in the northeast tower.

The Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino, in the province of Cremona, tells the story of the transformation from a tenth-century military building to a noble residence. The towers, the moat, the scallops and the access bridge reveal the task of defense. Inside, you can see traces of the frescoes commissioned by the Milanese family of Stampa.

Located on a sheer hill in Montagna di Valtellina, Sondrio, Castel Grumello is a curious manor made up of two identical buildings connected by a wall. Very little remains of the defensive position of the thirteenth century today. Not to be missed is the excursion to the top of the hill, to contemplate the ruins and the Valtellina from above, particularly suggestive at sunset.

The Castle of Carimate, built around the year 1000, is a corner of the history of Italy that has always acted as a strong defensive in that section that connects Switzerland and Milan. In 1345, the fief where the castle once stood passed into the hands of the Visconti family, lady of Milan. Immediately, Luchino I Visconti decided to rebuild the Castle of Carimate. Where the previous structure was a defensive position, the one built by the Visconti family is a residence dedicated to hunting and vacationing.