About
One of the most powerful women of the Renaissance lived in this castle.
Rocca Sforzesca is a stunning example of the evolution of castles and fortifications between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its origins date back to 1261 when a 10 tower structure was built on the remains of a pre-existing tower from the 11th-century. At the end of the 15th-century, the rectangular towers proved to be completely unsuitable for countering firearms, such as cannons. Between 1472 and 1484, the towers were changed into thicker circular structures and renovated by the Sforza family, along with the rest of the castle. One rectangular tower still recognizable, incorporated with one south-east tower while il Mastio (the central tower) was maintained.
