Vinci is a small town of less than 15,000 people that occupies just over 33 square miles in the green hills of Tuscany. Located about and hour from both Pisa and Florence, the village makes a perfect day trip for visitors to either city. Vinci thrives on the local tourist trade, so there are many small shops selling local wines, olive oil, clothing, pottery and paper goods. The city is best experienced on foot as the narrow, cobblestone streets of the central downtown area are difficult to navigate or impassible in some areas in a car or other mode of transportation. Luckily Vinci is easily reached by regularly-scheduled bus routes out of both Pisa, Florence and other surrounding cities. For those interested in driving, it is recommended to park your vehicle on the outskirts of the town for the duration of your visit.
As Vinci is a small village, hotel and restaurant options are limited; however, the options available are highly rated. The Hotel Alexandra boasts a classic, elegant style. The hotel also has two annexed properties--La Dependance and Depandance Simone--that offer more private rooms and apartments available for rent. For dining, the Hotel Alexandra offers the Ristoranti La Limonaia S.R.L., which features traditional Tuscan cuisine, fresh fish specials and an extensive wine list. Other restaurant options in the area include a handful of local eateries, bars and pizzerias all located along the small village's main street. All offer authentically-Tuscan dining options, including bruschette, salt porks, local and international cheeses and authentic pizza.
On the outskirts of Vinci, in an area known as Anchiamo, is the brick farm home where Leonardo da Vinci was born. Restored in 1986, the home recreates the life Leonardo experienced as a child. Exhibits inside the home give visitors a glimpse into life in Tuscany during the 15th century, culminating in the display of a tracing of the Arno Valley drawn by the young artist. Outside, guests can find inspiration in the rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards of the surrounding countryside that inspired da Vinci.
The nautically-shaped Conti Guidi Castle, also known as "The Ship's Castle," has housed The Leonardo Museum since 1953. Dedicated to preserving his scientific work rather than his artwork, the museum contains dozens of models based on designs discovered in Leonardo's sketchbooks for machinery related to movement on land, air and sea. Other models focus on da Vinci's contributions to architectural design. One floor houses several life-size machines that were designed and built by the man himself.
The Museo Ideale is a private gallery housed in the underground tunnels of the wine cellars in Castle da Vinci. The museum presents a biographical timeline of Leonardo da Vinci as artist, scientist and inventor. Founded by a collective of artists and scholars in 1993, the museum features a shifting display of acquisitions either created or inspired by da Vinci, as well as a collection of farming equipment dating back to the 15th century.
The Leonardo Library is considered the foremost documentation center for all specialized records relating to Leonardo da Vinci and prides itself on being integral to the revival of his scientific discoveries. Housed within the library is a complete collection of over 13,000 documents including da Vinci's manuscripts, essays, sketchbooks and personal notes. The collection at the library is further enhanced by the inclusion of writings about the man, including those of the famed 19th-century da Vinci scholar, Gustavus Uzielli.
"The church of the Holy Cross" was supposedly erected during the Middle Ages, but the current interior reflects a Renaissance-style architecture that was completed during renovations from 1925-1935. Local legend says Leonardo Da Vinci was baptized in the church on April 16, 1452, by the parson Piero di Bartolomeo Cecchi. While there is no documentation to lend credibility to the legend, the 500th anniversary of da Vinci's birth was marked by the dedication of the church's baptismal font.
