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My husband has an engineering background, so he has always been interested in Leonardo’s machine designs and sketches. He has bought and read several books that showcase them, complete with fold-out and flip-up pages. Of course, I’ve always known that his inventions were ahead of their time, and his eccentric ideas made him a unique figure, but somehow, I was missing that one piece of the puzzle that would help me understand who Leonardo da Vinci really was, and how it is possible that his drawings are still worth hundreds of millions of dollars today, with numerous books written about him and his 500-year-old thoughts still being quoted often.
I started researching, learning, reading, and getting to know the Master. Not just in Florence, but also in Milan, Vinci, and Pavia.
I developed a much more exciting image of him than just a bearded, old inventor. This is the person I usually talk about in Vinci, his birthplace, where he gained the knowledge and perspective that shaped his entire life.
The visit to Vinci consists of two parts. First, we explore a real medieval tower house, now turned into a museum in the former mayor’s office, where about 60 models based on Leonardo’s designs are displayed, from tanks to the perspectograph. The walls of the Podestà room are decorated with the family crests of past mayors, a Renaissance-era fireplace, and a hoist machine designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which was used in the construction of the Florence Dome, a device that certainly impressed young, aspiring Leonardo as well. From the tower terrace, you get a beautiful view of the countryside where the Master spent his early years.
In the neighboring building, also part of the museum, copies of Leonardo’s anatomical drawings can be seen, and in front of it stands the church where young Leonardo was baptized.
A 3 km walking path leads up to Anchiano, the birthplace, a pleasant walk on a nice day, though it is also easy to reach by car. Here, in the middle of an olive grove, we find ourselves in a truly inviting, tranquil environment, with a real Tuscan atmosphere. Vinci is certainly worthy of being a charming and interesting stop on any Tuscan excursion.
For more details, contact me through my provided contact information.
Things to know
Duration
3 hours
Sights during the tour
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum in the Guidi Tower, the main square with the church where Leonardo was baptized, and Anchiano, located 3 km away, where Leonardo’s birthplace is located along with a museum and olive grove.
Additional programs available upon request
The “Leonardo’s Paintings” exhibition, showcasing the Master’s works in a projected format.
