“Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” certified in 2024

Leonardo da Vinci is an iconic figure of the Italian Renaissance, who left a permanent mark on art, science, and engineering in Europe and around the world. A veritable polymath, he devoted his life to exploring the various fields of human knowledge. Born in Vinci, Tuscany, in 1452, Leonardo travelled throughout Italy, from Florence to Milan, via Rome and Venice, before settling in France upon invitation of the King Francis I, where he passed away in 1519. His notebooks reveal a spirit of scientific inquiry and inventiveness centuries ahead of their time. Although many of his creations never saw the light, his works of art such as “The Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” continue to fascinate the world today.

Heritage

Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy continues to resonate with present-day society, thanks to the diversity of his interdisciplinary research and the extraordinary expressiveness of his art and writings. He embodies the humanist ideal of the Renaissance, where art and science meet to expand the boundaries of knowledge and creativity. Leonardo da Vinci foreshadowed a very modern perspective of collaboration between humanistic cultural and technological culture. He studied nature in all its forms, adopting a method that anticipated that of experimental science in later centuries. Leonardo da Vinci left an immense legacy that remains a universal source of inspiration, celebrated for his vision, his desire for knowledge and his dedication to innovation.

Travelling today

The European Leonardo da Vinci Route follows the most significant moments in Leonardo’s life, from Italy to Slovenia, and France, highlighting the place where his most iconic works are kept and where he carried his inventions. The territories of the Unions of Communes of the Savio Valley, the area of the metropolitan city of Florence together with Vinci, and Vipava offer a unique journey into the artist’s legacy. The Pera area of Istanbul, which played a crucial role in the 15th and 16th centuries under Genoese control, is home to the site where Leonardo designed the Galata Bridge for Sultan Bayezid II. In addition, the route invites visitors to follow the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci’s last journey from Rome to Amboise at the court of Francis I. His presence in Amboise is recalled in several places in the region, including the Château du Clos Lucé, which was the artist’s residence for the three last years of his life.