Leonardo

The guide book wasn't particularly complimentary about Vinci but it was only about fifteen minutes away so we thought we'd give it a whirl. It's a small town and at the top end there's the Leonardo Museum (awful website here) developed in amongst what I'd guess is the oldest part. It feels like you're in a walled settlement and it's kind of beautiful and compact because of it.

The book criticised the Museum because there's hardly any art, mostly inventions but I think that's what makes it so good. I mean, let's face it, all his great art is going to be in the world's best museums. Vinci is just a small town in a rural community between Pisa and Florence. Regardless of it's significance I doubt it's going to be able to compete financially with a major city. So I think it was pretty smart of someone to focus the museum's attentions (and funds) on Leo's hair-brained contraptions.

And there's loads of great scaled models, some interactive. Unfortunately, and archaically, you can't take photos inside (and anyway, I was having too much fun to even try some sneaky ones) so I can't show you anything but outside and around the museum it's lovely. Quiet, great views (it's fairly high up) and with some really interesting external design and decor. Definitely worth a morning or afternoon out if you're ever in the area.

Comments

[Antonio]

Any idea why they don't allow pictures? I've come across some Museums that don't allow you to take pictures, which is a bit silly (if you ask me, which you didn't…). I hate the fact that I'm going to forget most of it and can't take some interesting pics for future reference.

[Richrd]

I think it's an old fashioned/out-dated idea really. I feel like there was a time when, generally, you just weren't allowed to take photos in galleries and museums. Now, what with image sharing and blogging, it seems like anything goes. In galleries, I guess lots of flash photography is probably bad for ancient artwork and perhaps there's a security issue too. I agree, really it seems a bit tight of them. That said, I'm pretty sure I could have taken a few but I was busy chasing our kids round.

[Ian Devlin]

Sounds like fun (except for the chasing the kids around bit). I wasn't even aware there was a place called Vinci (I suppose I should have guessed given the "da" in his name) nor that there was a museum dedicated to the great man.