Colonna has meanwhile relocated to a formidable new position: the manor park of Bicocca, about four miles (six kilometers) north of Milan.

The park is situated between a large expanse of marshy ground to the west and the main road into Milan to the east; along this road runs a deep wet ditch, which is crossed by a narrow stone bridge some distance south of the park.

The north side of the park is bordered by a sunken road; Colonna deepens this and constructs an earthen rampart on the southern bank.

The Imperial artillery, placed on several platforms jutting forward from the earthworks, is able to sweep the fields north of the park as well as parts of the sunken road itself.

The entire length of the north side of the park is less than six hundred yards (five hundred and fifty meters), which permits Colonna to place his troops quite densely.

Immediately behind the rampart are four ranks of Spanish arquebusiers, commanded by Fernando d'Avalos, Marquess of Pescara; they are backed by Spanish pikemen and German landsknechts under Georg Frundsberg.

Most of the Imperial cavalry is placed at the south end of the park, far behind the infantry; a separate force of cavalry is positioned to the south, guarding the bridge.