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Visiting Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Rome

Leonardo da Vinci spent three years of his life in Rome, between 1514 and 1517. It was not his first time there - he had previously visited Rome and Tivoli in 1501. During those three years, Leonardo was a guest of Pope Leo X, residing in the Belvedere apartments within the Vatican.

During this period, he conducted studies in mechanics, optics, and geometry, worked on reclamation projects for marshes and the port of Civitavecchia, and performed anatomical studies at the nearby Santo Spirito in Sassia hospital. The latter, which involved practicing on cadavers, led to anonymous accusations of witchcraft against him. As a result, in 1517, he decided to accept King Francis I's offer to move to the French court. Leonardo would pass away two years later, in 1519, in France.

Today, with the exception of the painting "St. Jerome in the Wilderness" (located in the Vatican Museums), there are no original works by da Vinci to be found in Rome. However, the Fiumicino Airport bears his name, and the city hosts three small exhibitions and museums dedicated to his genius.

Leonardo da Vinci Museum/ Exhibition

The Mostra di Leonardo da Vinci museum, inaugurated in 2009, is located in the Palazzo della Cancelleria (Piazza della Cancelleria No. 1), just 200 meters from Piazza Navona. It is a well-documented permanent exhibition titled "Leonardo da Vinci - The Genius and His Inventions: Great Interactive Machines".

The museum offers a unique experience based on sensations and perceptions, allowing you to immerse yourself in Da Vinci's world through over 200 designed machines, 65 reconstructed functional models, 9 animated holograms, 4 thematic sectors.

These large-scale machines were built entirely of wood, following the original drawings from Leonardo's manuscripts in precise detail. The installations are designed to be interactive, stimulating the curiosity of both children and adults.

The holograms showcase Leonardo's studies on flight, war, engineering, and painting, providing a deeper understanding of how his inventions actually work.

At the end of the tour, you can visit the Tomb of Aulus Hirtius in the palace's subterranean level. Hirtius was a lieutenant of Julius Caesar who died at the Battle of Mutina in 43 BC. The tomb was discovered in 1938, preserved beneath the waters of the Euripus canal, a tributary of the Tiber River.

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Tip: If you find yourself here, take the opportunity to admire the Palazzo della Cancelleria, which houses the exhibition. The palace belongs to the Vatican and was the historical seat of the Apostolic Chancery; today, it still hosts the Tribunals of the Holy See. Built at the end of the 15th century, it was the first palace in Rome designed from the ground up in the Renaissance style and is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The inner courtyard was designed by the famous architect Donato Bramante, and the columns were reclaimed from the Theatre of Pompey and are of Egyptian origin. Other materials used in the construction of the palace were sourced directly from the Colosseum.

Leonardo da Vinci Museum

Another museum in Rome centered on the work of Leonardo da Vinci is located in Piazza del Popolo, within the basement of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.

Tip: While you are there, don't miss the chance to admire the two Caravaggio masterpieces located inside the church ("The Crucifixion of St. Peter" and "The Conversion of St. Paul").

The Da Vinci Museum is relatively small - more of an exhibition - and features wooden and iron machines, some built to full scale based on Da Vinci's manuscripts, reproductions of his most famous paintings, human anatomy sketches and multimedia installations.

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Leonardo da Vinci Experience Museum

Another permanent exhibition in Rome dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci is titled Leonardo da Vinci Experience and is located at Via della Conciliazione 19, near the Vatican.

The exhibition features several themed rooms, showcasing 50 recreated machines and over 20 reproductions of his paintings (including the famous "The Last Supper" from Milan), all crafted using authentic Renaissance-era techniques. An audio guide in multiple languages is included in the ticket price.