Beautiful Tuscany

Immersed in the greenery, among vineyards and olive groves, Vinci is situated on the slopes of the Montalbano, delightful hilly massif among the provinces of Florence, Pistoia and Prato. It is an old village with medieval origins and belonged to the Guidi feudatories until 1254, when it was subdued to Florence. Leonardo da Vinci was born in a locality called Anchiano which is part of the town Vinci on the 15th of April 1452. He spent the years of his childhood in Vinci: every striking place of the town is linked to his worldwide acknowledged genius.The castle of Conti Guidi is the original part of the built-up area with its still easily visible typically elliptic shape. The impressive fortress, housing one of the two parts of the Museo Leonardiano, stands on the top of the old area, inside are some coats of arms, frescoes and a valuable polychrome terracotta of 1523 attributed to Giovanna Della Robbia. In the neighbourhood, Piazza dei Guidi stands in a new and autonomous scenery designed by Mimmo Paladino, this indicates the entrance of the Museum into Palazzina Uzielli.Other sights complete the itinerary within boundary walls: the wooden sculpture of Mario Ceroli, inspired by the Vitruvian man of Leonardo, the Church of Santa Croce, which preserves the original font where Leonardo was almost certainly baptized; the Biblioteca Leonardiana, a documentation centre specialises on the works of Leonardo.In Piazza della Libertà a bronze monument, made by Nina Akamu is placed. The statue is inspired by some drawings of Leonardo relative to the project of the statue dedicated to Francesco Forza. From the old town centre, along an old footpath or the scenic road, the locality Anchiano can be reached where the Native House of Leonardo is located, a typically 15th century house of the Tuscan countryside.

Monuments, museums and churches

Museo Leonardiano
The museum is divided into two parts : Palazzina Uzielli and Castello dei Conti Guidi. There is a collection of machine-designs and the models he designed as an engineer and inventor.

Opening hours Museo Leonardiano
Daily from 9.30 am until 7 pm (March-October)
Daily from 9.30 am until 6 pm (November-February)
Via della Torre, 2 tel. 0039 0571 56055- 933251

Museo Ideale Leonardo da Vinci
This museum was opened in 1993 and is located in the cellars of the castle. There is an exhibition of artworks and original documents of Leonardo da Vinci (for example his paintings - "La Madonna delle Minime" and "La Maddalena" ), tools from his period and 50 reconstructed models of the designs of Leonardo.

Opening hours Museo Ideale Leonardo da Vinci
Daily 10 am – 1 pm / 3 – 7 pm
Via di Montalbano 2, Vinci - Tel. +39 0571 56296

Chiesa di S. Croce
In this church is preserved the ancient font where Leonardo was almost certainly baptized.