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Capitol World Class Hotel Milan - Castello Sforzesco
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This castle was originally built by Galeazzo II in 1368 as a fortess for defensive reasons, but lost its original intentions and assumed as a dwelling for royalty.
Nearly a hundred years later, in 1450, when the new Lord Duke of Milano, Francesco Sforza took reign, the castle was returned to its original role as Fortess and an additon of three towers were added.
The Castello later became one of the most luxurious courts of Italian Renaissance when in the late 1400's Ludovico il Moro succeeded Sforza. It was renound as an attraction of the most talented artists of this period. The great Leonardo Da Vinci painted the "Sala delle Asse" and Bramante completed the "Cortile della Rocchetta" and "Ponticella".
The decline of the Castello began in the 16th century when the French conquered the Castle and it was abandoned as a residence and became again an instrument of defense. A modern system of bastions in the shape of a star was built by the Spanish and the rooms were decorated with coats of arms.
During the French rule by Napoleon between 1796- 1814, the fortifications built by the Spanish were destroyed.
The Castello was taken over and saved by Vittorio Emanuele II in the 18th century and with the hand of the famous architect, Luca Beltrami, who reconstructed the castle back to its original model.
It has become an important cultural center with museums and exhibitions availabel to the public today.
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