Have you ever wondered where Leonardo da Vinci was born? Look no further than his name! The greatest genius of all times was born in Vinci, small and charming hill town a few kilometers away from Florence, all surrounded by green hills, vineyards and olive groves.
We are in the heart of the Tuscan countryside with its hilly landscape and cypress trees; a natural landscape remained nearly intact for centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci Birthplace
This is the land of the extraordinary Leonardo da Vinci, the most brilliant mind of all times! painter, artist, architect, sculptor, anatomist, scientist, inventor, engineer, and musician, he is considered one of the greatest geniuses of mankind. Born in 1452, he was a man of the Renaissance, representing the spirit of his era at its best, leading to higher forms of expression in the various fields of art and knowledge.
In Vinci Leonardo lived his childhood, before being taken by his father to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, in the workshops of artists and painters who forged his incredible innate curiosity for knowledge.
Vinci has its origins in the Middle Ages, and develops around the fortress or Rocca dei Conti Guidi and its castle. The Castle of Conti Guidi preserves wonderful coats of arms and the splendid ceramic of a Madonna with Child by Giovanni della Robbia.
The Museum of Leonardo da Vinci
Since 1953 the castle is home to the Museum of Leonardo that collects the peculiar and unique machines and models of Leonardo’s inventions, in addition to drawings and sketches by Leonardo himself. The models are accompanied by images taken from paintings and old manuscripts, references and digital reconstructions showing how the machines work. Still in the castle is the Biblioteca Leonardiana, international center for studies on Leonardo and library with rare works on the life of Leonardo.
In the cellars of the castle lies the Museo Ideale “Leonardo da Vinci”, a private gallery that, in addition to exhibiting ancient agricultural tools, collects various materials from exhibitions on Leonardo.
The House of Leonardo
At about 3 km from Vinci, in Anchiano, you can visit what is considered the house of Leonardo da Vinci, a natural integration of the visit to the museum. Surrounded by olive groves and overlooking the countryside, the ancient home of Leonardo is a poor peasant’s house still with a sleepy and peaceful atmosphere that has not changed for centuries.
Inside is housed a permanent educational exhibition with reproductions of drawings depicting views of the Tuscan countryside and a map of the Valdarno drawn by Leonardo himself!
How to Reach Vinci
Vinci can be conveniently visited on a day trip from Florence, taking a train from Florence Santa Maria Novella Train Station to Empoli station, and from there reaching Vinci by bus.
