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MUSEUM OF ANCIENT ART ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE DUCAL COURTYARD
The first four rooms house sculptures dating from the Palaeo-Christian age to the Gothic age. There are truly unique masterpieces like the 6th century-sculpture of Byzantine empress Teodora's head and other important works of the Romanesque Age. Undoubtedly, the most impressive exhibit is the funeral monument of Bernabò Visconti by Bonino da Campione. Not to be forgotten the sculptures realised by Giovanni di Balduccio and his workers in the 14th century (except for those on the Porta Romana, which are dated the 12th century) to adorn the medieval gates of Milan. Walking through the wide room which house the ancient banner of Milan, you get to the so-called Sala delle Asse with beautiful frescos commissioned to Leonardo by Ludovico il Moro in 1498. The famous pergola painted by Leonardo da Vinci is housed inside this room. Moving into the Sala dei Ducali and Sala delle Colombine, you can admire the frescos representing the Sforza family's coats of arms painted on the vaults. The two rooms house a great number of 15th century sculptures (e.g. works by Mantegazza, Amadeo and Jacopino da Tradate) and a few exhibits of different origin.
Here, in the heart of the Sforza family's private apartments, you must notice the Cappella Ducale, which maintains - as a whole - the late Gothic taste shining with gold that the Sforza particularly liked.
Inside the green room, you can admire the new Armoury, including bayonets, suits of armour and guns dated from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Last but not least, inside the Sala degli Scarlioni you can admire two 16th century masterpieces: the tomb of Gaston de Foix, a French leader who died in Milan in 1512, by Agostino Busti - known as il Bambaia - and the Pietà Rondanini, Michelangelo's last work, which he left unfinished.
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GROUND FLOOR OF THE DUCAL COURTYARD
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