Turns out Leonardo da Vinci was right: secret tunnels found beneath Italy's Sforza Castle

The Italian castle of Sforza, which is more than 575 years old, is known as the object of many legends. One of the most popular tell of the existence of secret passages under its territory. Leonardo da Vinci was the first to talk about them.

Thus, an innovative technological study recently conducted by the Polytechnic University of Milan has shown that da Vinci's references to underground tunnels are not myths at all. Scientists visited the site with GPR (ground-penetrating radars) equipment to map the bowels of Sforza Castle and finally find out whether the corridors existed, Arkeo News reports.

The tools used in the study emit electromagnetic waves that penetrate the ground and reflect signals. Franco Guzzetti, a professor of geomatics at the University of Milan, and his colleagues discovered several underground cavities and passages about 300-600 meters underground. It it they that could be depicted in the drawings of the famous artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci.

According to a legend, one of these tunnels had a very specific purpose - it stretched along the outer wall of the castle and led the Duke of Milan to the grave of his late wife Beatrice d'Este, who died in childbirth in 1497, Popular Science reports. But, according to researchers, these structures could also serve defense and military purposes.

"The castle is not just a monument; it is a repository of stories waiting to be told, each layer of stone representing the lives and legacies of those who came before. By exploring these hidden depths, researchers are ensuring that the castle remains alive in the collective consciousness of both locals and visitors," the researchers wrote.

The collected information not only documented the history but also created new prospects for the development of tourism in the castle. Visitors will be able to explore underground spaces and inaccessible historical sites using augmented reality technologies and virtual paths, combining innovation and history.

According to Franco, the research was conducted to create a digital twin of Sforza Castle in the future. "The goal is to create a digital twin of the Sforza Castle, a digital model that not only represents the current appearance of the Castle but also allows you to explore the past, recovering historical elements that are no longer visible," the professor explained.

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