View of the Bramante clocktower, Piazza Ducale, Vigevano, Province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy (photo)

The Piazza Ducale is an elongated rectangle that is almost in the ideal proportions 1:3 advocated by the architectural theorist Filarete. It is said to have been laid out by Bramante, and was certainly built for Ludovico il Moro, from 1492-93 and completed in 1496. The Sforza Castle one of the largest architectural complexes in Europe, located in the upper part of the city. It was built as a military fortification but also as a residence. The first nucleus of the castle dates back between the 7th and 10th centuries, or the Lombard age. It was converted into a noble residence in 1345 by Luchino Visconti then transferred to the Sforza under the ruler Ludovico il Moro who commissioned its restoration to great artists such as Bramante and perhaps Leonardo. Vigevano-Castello Sforzesco con Torre Bramante-Residenza di Luchino Visconti-Filippo Maria Visconti-Galeazzo Maria Sforza-Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza-Francesco II Sforza