Why would Leonardo da Vinci, a master of art and engineering, choose to erect his colossal clay model of the Sforza horse in the Corte Vecchia? Here, in the heart of the Royal Palace, once known as the Corte Vecchia, stood a testament to the Sforza family’s power. Leonardo, who arrived in Milan in 1482, had been commissioned by Ludovico Sforza to create this immense statue. It was to be a symbol of the family’s might and Leonardo’s genius. Leonardo envisioned the Corte Vecchia as the perfect stage for this grand spectacle. The palace itself, with its medieval details hidden beneath a neoclassical facade, had witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties. It had been home to the Visconti family before the Sforza family’s ascent. Within the palace walls, Leonardo had his workshop. It was here that he toiled tirelessly, his mind abuzz with innovative designs. From the terracotta windows that still lined the palace walls, one could almost imagine him gazing out onto the city, contemplating the placement of his masterpiece. The clay model of the Sforza horse, towering over the Corte Vecchia, was an awe-inspiring sight. It stood as a potent symbol until 1499. The invading French army, threatened by its grandeur, tragically destroyed it, using it for target practice. Leonardo’s vision, though ephemeral, left an indelible mark on the Corte Vecchia, a silent echo of the artistic ambition that once graced its courtyard.
Nuovo Cimitero di Cologno Monzese
“A timeless sanctuary,” the old woman whispered, her gaze fixed on the rows of marble within Nuovo Cimitero di Cologno