Italia Vigevano 3 Castello Sforzesco

1
Travel treasures
vigevano
3
2
Vigevano (Avgevan in the local variety of Western
Lombard) is particularly well known for its
beautiful Renaissance "Piazza Ducale", in the
centre of the town, one the most beautiful
piazzas in Italy, and the Castle, that stands out
among all others in Lombardy.
3
(No Transcript)
4
The castle, which rises up at the town's highest
point, is grafted on to the planimetric
foundation and structure of the pre-existing
walled city dating back to the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries. The castle was built in two
important and consecutive stages, one under the
Viscontis and the other under the Sforzas. The
first was prompted by the mayor of Vigevano,
Luchino Visconti. In 1341 he ordered the building
of the "Rocca Vecchia", a fortress for keeping
watch over the road to Milan. Then, in 1345, he
instigated the building of the castle itself, the
present "Maschio", which was quadrilateral in
shape and had four angular towers. Two years
later, the two forts were linked by the strada
coperta, a great raised and fortified
thoroughfare which extended across the town and
made it possible to pass quickly from the castle
to the open countryside beyond. It was a
remarkable achievement,164 metres long and 7
metres wide. The construction stage under the
Sforzas has become significant due to the
artistic contribution of Donato Bramante.
5
In this period, the castle took on the traits of
a magnificent princely residence and acquired the
splendor due to it as one of Europe's richest
Renaissance courts.
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
Leonardo da Vinci was guest at Vigevano, as was
Bramante, who is ascribed with the tall tower
that watches over the piazza from the Castello
Sforzesco. The old castle has a unique raised
covered road, high enough for horsemen to ride
through, that communicates between the new palace
and the old fortifications
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
Strada coperta entrance
12
Strada coperta (roofed road)
13
Strade Sotterranee. Evocative subsurface
passages connecting the lower part of the town
and the castle
Strada coperta (roofed road)
14
Strada coperta (roofed road)
15
Strada coperta (roofed road)
16
The "Strada coperta" (roofed road) a great raised
and fortified thoroughfare, a 14th century
covered road that is a unique masterpiece in
Europe. "Strada coperta extended across the
town and made it possible to pass quickly form
the castle to the open countryside beyond. It was
a remarkable achievement, 164 metres long and 7
metres wide.
Strade Sotterranee
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
falconiera
In the two year period from 1492 - 1494, Duke
Ludovico Maria Sforza, known as "il Moro",
instigated the completion of the stables, the
tower made up of graduated parts, and the fine
colonnades of the "falconiera"
23
The Falconry, an elegant loggiato supported by 48
columns. Falconiera was thus called because it
was the place used to breed falcons and train
them to hunt.
24
THE DUCAL STABLES Entering the Castle from the
Tower Hall, you reach the immense yard and on
your right you can find the Stables. The Stables
consist in three two-floor buildings following
each other with their facade decorated with what
remains of the 15th century frescos. The First
Stable was built in 1490 by order of Duke
Ludovico il Moro for the horses of his "beloved
nephew Gian Galeazzo". The proportions of this
cross vaulted building are wonderful it is 92
metres long and 12 metres wide and it's divided
into three parts by two rows of columns with
fairly decorated basis and capitals. Leonardo da
Vinci was probably inspired by it when he
designed his model of the perfect stable. In fact
Leonardo's "polita stalla" of the Trivulziano
Code and of Manuscript B (which you can virtually
consult in the Exhibition) comes to the mind.
25
On the upper floors during the 15th century there
were the lodgings of the grooms and the pages.
Nowadays there you can find the International
Shoes Museum "P. Bertolini" and the temporary
Exhibition "Court Splendours" This stable is
followed by the Second Stable where the
Exhibition "Leonardo's Workshop" is hosted
26
The stables, the building of which had been
started by Galeazzo Maria, could accommodate a
thousand horses. Ludovico il Moro commissioned
the three stables fresco with geometric designs
typically Bramante style and false architecture
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
A residential wing for the Duchess was added to
the rear part of the "Maschio" and the elegant
"Loggia delle Dame" was erected. At the end of
the Sforza dynasty the castle was surrendered to
the Spanish. This marked the beginning of a
gradual decline it went on to be used as army
barracks for more than three centuries. The
castle is currently undergoing restoration work.
31
Sala dell Affresco
32
The tower is situated at the town's highest
point. It was built in several phases
construction began in 1198 and was finally
completed by Bramante at the end of the fifteenth
century. The tower, which has an unusual shape
filaretiana in style, is made up of graduated
parts. From its battlements there is a fine view
over the piazza, the castle and the whole of the
town.
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
Piazza Ducale
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
The Visconti-Sforza castle can be considered a
small town inside the town, being one of the
largest fortified structures in Europe. The first
centre goes back to the Longobard period
(7th-10th century), whereas the latter part of
the construction is due to the Viscontis and the
Sforzas, who transfornmed the castle into their
private residence. At the construction of the
castle have surely worked many important artists
of the time, like Bramante and most probably also
Leonardo da Vinci.
40
(No Transcript)
41
(No Transcript)
42
(No Transcript)
43
Text pictures Internet All  copyrights 
belong to their  respective owners
Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Niccolò Paganini - Violin
Concerto N 5 in A minor - 03 - Rondo Andantino
Quasi Allegretto