Leonardo da Vinci Tour
The appeal and charm of Milan in the Renaissance, melting pot of different cultures and political thoughts, was the background but also the ideal inspirational source for some of Leonardo’s most important masterpieces. The Maestro, a true Italian Genius, left his indelible presence in many places in Milan.
His presence is strong and tangible, leaving us surprised still nowadays about how he could have such a boundless creativity and such a fascinating mind.
We have created a tour which will take you from Milan to the town of Vigevano, at the discovery of some of his unknown masterpieces.
Vigevano will actually be our first stop after leaving Milan in the morning , and once there we will visit Piazza Ducale (inspired to Bramante’s architecture) and the Castle nearby.
Vigevano’s Piazza Ducale was built by order of Ludovico il Moro, lord of Milan, as an ideal anteroom entrance to the imposing Visconteo-Sforzesco Castle just nearby. It was built in 1492 and the construction process of this square took two years overall. We are sure that Leonardo da Vinci was here at the time the square was being built, because he took inspiration there for some of the drawings which were later included in his Codes.
After the visit of Vigevano the journey will take us back to Milan. Milan as well has its own Sforzesco Castle, and here inside we will visit “Sala delle Asse” (the Room of the Boards). This room of the Castle is named after the wooden covering of the walls and Leonardo, back in 1498, frescoed a fake-bower on the ceiling of the room. The fresco is composed by many flowering branches and is overtopped by the coat of arms of the Sforza family.
The visit will then end at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (the Ambrosiana Picture Gallery), built by order of the Cardinal Federico Borromeo in 1618 and home to other unique masterpieces. The true symbol of this entire collection is the “Ritratto di Musico” (the Portrait of the Musician), the only painting by Leonardo visible in Milan today.
Other masterpieces as well enrich the visit to the Pinacoteca. To mention just a few examples: the “Last Supper” by Vespino and the “Portrait of a Lady” by De Pedris, both pupils of Leonardo da Vinci.
Before leaving the Pinacoteca, another hall deserves a visit: the “Sala Federiciana”, which is the original and monumental reading room of the Ambrosiana Library. This room is home to the majority of the drawings included in the “Atlantic Code” of Leonardo da Vinci.
The tour is dedicated to pre-established groups of at least 15 people and can be done either on a full day or a half day basis.
The first of the two variants includes lunch at Mortara.
The price per person depends on season and number of participants.
