- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: Alessandro Vecchi, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Castle
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 45°26′40″ N, 8°37′03″ E
- Address
- Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 3
History and description
The Visconti-Sforza Castle of Novara is a castle located in the south-western border of the old center of Novara. It was erected on the former corner of the Roman and Middle Age walls that surrounded the city.
History
The origin of the castle is connected to the transfer of Novara under the influence of Milan, taking place in the second half of the 13th century. In 1272 Francesco Della Torre (member of the family ruler of Milan), after taking over the city, ordered the construction of a fortification on the site belonged to the Tettoni family. In the 14th century, after the exchange of the ruling families from the Della Torre to the Visconti, the Lord of Milan Giovanni Visconti (1339-1354) paid again attention to Novara and had the castle built. The castle was strengthened by his successors Galeazzo II (1354-1378) and Gian Galeazzo (1378-1402). Works and repairs were done over the years by Francesco Sforza. His son, the duke Galeazzo Maria, carried out the major transformation of the building.
After almost ten years of restoration, in January 2016 the castle was reopened to the public.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Visconti-Sforza Castle».
Photos
Getting there
NovaraTrain, nearest
900 m as the crow flies
Visconti-Sforza CastlePiazza Martiri della Libertà, 3
Aeroporto internazionale Milano Malpensa "Silvio Berlusconi"22.3 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore castles in Piedmont
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Visconti-Sforza Castle?
Visconti-Sforza Castle is in Novara, in the province of Novara (Piedmont), Italy. Address: Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 3. GPS coordinates: 45.44450, 8.61740.
Is Visconti-Sforza Castle wheelchair accessible?
According to OpenStreetMap data, the site is partly wheelchair accessible.
What else is there to see near Visconti-Sforza Castle?
Nearby you’ll find: Teatro Coccia (100 m away), Galleria d'Arte Moderna Paolo e Adele Giannoni (300 m away), Musei della canonica del duomo di Novara (300 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 8 photos
- Novara Castello fronte — Alessandro Vecchi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - 2023-09-01 15-53-05 001 — LaLovi07, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - 2026-09-28 20-45-48 001 — BelPatty86, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - Ammirando "L'aquilone" — Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - In contemplazione — Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - Quadri in esposizione in una delle sale — Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - Quadro di Boldini in esposizione — Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novara - Castello Visconteo-Sforzesco - Quadro di Giuseppe De Nittis — Monica Rondoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences