Besides the convenience of having a real castle downtown, Milan is blessed by its flatness. No hiking up a hill to visit the Castello Sforzesco. You can walk easily from the famous Duomo (cathedral) to the Castello.
The Castello Sforzesco was built in the 14th century and torn down several times by both insiders and outsiders. Francesco Sforza finally rebuilt it when be became the Duke of Milan in 1450, and it took his name. The last big renovation came at the turn of the 20th century.
