Milan is briefly opening access to a rare Leonardo da Vinci mural inside the Sforza Castle during the 2026 Winter Olympics. From February 7 to March 14, visitors can climb a 20-foot scaffold in the Sala delle Asse to see conservators restoring the unfinished wall and ceiling painting, which was begun around 1498 and long hidden under plaster. The castle has also launched a new multimedia installation on the room's history and reopened a gallery dedicated to Leonardo's students and followers, the Leonardeschi.
This limited public access matters because the mural is a fragile, genuine Leonardo work only recently re-evaluated as such, and it will be sealed off again for 18 months after the five-week window. The restoration, using Japanese rice paper and demineralized water, highlights ongoing efforts to preserve a masterpiece that was lost for centuries. The event also underscores Milan's cultural strategy to leverage the Olympics to draw attention to its Renaissance heritage and Leonardo's deep ties to the city.