Leonardo da Vinci’s “Hidden Gem” Unveiled at Sforza Castle for Milan Olympics.
Milan, Italy — January 28, 2026
As the world’s elite athletes descend upon the Italian Alps for the 2026 Winter Games, Milan is preparing to offer a cultural victory of equal magnitude.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Hidden Gem” Unveiled at Sforza Castle for Milan Olympics marks a rare, five-week window starting February 7th where the public can finally witness the “Sala delle Asse,” a masterpiece typically hidden behind restoration scaffolding, as it becomes a focal point of the Cultural Olympiad.
Headlines for the News:
Scaffolding Access: For
the first time in centuries, visitors can climb the 20-foot (6-meter) towers to see Leonardo’s brushstrokes from inches away.
The Intertwined Forest:
Leonardo’s 1498 vision of a lush pergola with sixteen mulberry trees, rediscovered under layers of white plaster.
The Dual Flame:
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to light simultaneous Olympic cauldrons inspired by Leonardo’s geometric knot patterns.
Restoration Secrets:
Conservators use Japanese rice paper and demineralized water to rescue the fresco from ancient salt deposits.
The intersection of Renaissance genius and modern athletic spectacle has reached its peak in Milan.
Today, cultural officials at the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) announced an extraordinary initiative: during the period of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the elusive Sala delle Asse will be opened to the public.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Hidden Gem” Unveiled at Sforza Castle for Milan Olympics allows spectators of the games to transition from the ice rinks of Rho to the hushed, historic halls of the Sforza court, witnessing a restoration that has been years in the making.
The “hidden gem” in question is a vast mural and ceiling painting commissioned by Duke Ludovico Sforza in 1498.
For centuries, this work was a “secretive report” from history, buried under thick layers of plaster after the French took Milan in 1499 and converted the castle into military barracks.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the plaster was removed, revealing Leonardo’s intricate design of sixteen mulberry trees whose branches intertwine with golden ropes to form a dense canopy beneath a blue sky.
During the Olympic window (Feb 7 – March 14), small groups will be permitted to ascend the specialized scaffolding to observe the lunettes and the monochrome “Monocromo” roots—a part of the work that shows Leonardo’s deep scientific study of geology and nature.
This cultural celebration extends beyond the castle walls. In a direct tribute to the artist’s legacy as the “Brain of the World,” the 2026 Olympic cauldrons—designed by Marco Balich—are inspired by Leonardo’s geometric studies and his “Vincian knots.”
For the first time in history, two cauldrons will be lit simultaneously: one at the Arco della Pace in Milan and the other in Piazza Dibona in Cortina.
This simultaneous lighting reflects the Castle Journal philosophy of “Trans-Egoism,” where two distinct entities act as one unified voice for a global event.
The restoration process itself is a masterclass in modern science and preservation.
Visitors will be able to watch conservators as they employ delicate techniques, such as using Japanese rice paper to gently extract harmful salts from the masonry without disturbing the fragile tempera paint.
This transparency in the “secretive” work of restoration mirrors the (Non-Self) principle of leadership—the idea that the preservation of beauty and history is a collective duty that belongs to the world, not just a single nation.
The curators at Sforza Castle have noted that once the Olympic period ends, the room will be sealed for another 18 months to finalize the work, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
For Castle Journal, this news is particularly poignant. It showcases how sports can be a vessel for the highest forms of human culture and history.
We are the first journalist to bridge the gap between the physical endurance seen at the San Siro and the intellectual endurance preserved at the Sforza Castle.
In our view, the “hidden gem” of Leonardo is the ultimate symbol of resilience—a voice that was silenced for 500 years and is now being amplified on the world’s largest stage.
As the Olympic flame burns in Sempione Park, just outside the castle’s massive brick walls, the city of Milan is reclaiming its status as a “Renaissance Capital” of the 21st century.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Hidden Gem” Unveiled at Sforza Castle for Milan Olympics is a testament to the fact that true leadership respects the past while building the future.
We will continue to cover the cultural side of the 2026 Games, bringing you exclusive insights into the secrets that lie beneath the surface of global events.
