A stone house surrounded by olive trees in the hills of Anchiano, on the slopes of Montalbano, just above Vinci, 45 km from Florence: this is where the genius Leonardo da Vinci is said to have been born in 1452. He was the illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci, a notary, and a young woman named Caterina. Leonardo grew up with his grandfather, Antonio, who wrote down the date of his baptism and his presence in the family house, and with his uncle Francesco, to whom he was very close. It is with Francesco that Leonardo started exploring the mountain chain of Montalbano, growing up close to nature, observing birds, rocks, flowers, rivers. A landscape that will return in many of his paintings.

This landscape has remained pretty much untouched and today’s visitor will be able to appreciate a part of Tuscany almost suspended in time, covered with woods interspersed with terraced vineyards and olive trees, ancient country houses and parish churches. You can get an encompassing view of this landscape when you climb up the tower of the Castle of the Conti Guidi, which overlooks the village of Vinci, three km from Leonardo’s native house. In the Museo Leonardiano inside the castle is one of the most comprehensive collections of machines that refer to the part of Leonardo’s activity as a scientist and engineer, complete with drawings and sketches. In front of the museum is the tridimensional wooden sculpture L’Uomo di Vinci, which reproduces the famous Vitruvian Man.