- Active & Green
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The Catalpa of the Sforza Castle
On the right side of the famous Milanese castle, a very unusual monumental tree can be seen: a large catalpa.
The Sforza Castle, Milan's most symbolic monument together with the Duomo, is admired by all for its grandeur and architectural beauty.
These undisputed characteristics are made even more pronounced by the successful combination of the mighty 15th-century walls and the green spaces that surround them. Large trees not only can be found in the vast Sempione Park behind the castle, but also on the side of the moats. Near the Porta del Carmine gate, on the right side of the fortification, a beautiful specimen of catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) grows.
Placed in a particularly picturesque location, the tree not only has great landscape value, but also reaches a truly remarkable size for the species. In fact, the tree has a trunk circumference of more than 4 metres (diameter 135 cm) and a height of almost 11 metres. The catalpa, originally from North America, has been very successful as an ornamental plant in European gardens. It is characterised by large, heart-shaped, light green leaves, and in the summer months it produces an enchanting white blossoming. The foliage, supported by a short and squat trunk by nature, is enriched in autumn by distinctive fruits resembling long pods of legumes; for this peculiarity it is nicknamed the 'cigar tree'.
A green monument that is accessible to the public.
