Home | Leonardo's Vineyard | Official Website (2024)

History

A forgotten story links Leonardo da Vinci to Milan - the story of a vineyard. The same vineyard that Ludovico “Il Moro” Duke of Milan, gave to Leonardo as a gift in 1498. A vineyard surrounded by legends involving Leonardo, his works and his followers. Today the vineyard is born again, within the original rows and with the original vine stock.
From Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Florence Leonardo moves to Milan, under Ludovico Maria ‘Il Moro’ Sforza’s rule, in 1482. In 1495, Ludovico commissions Leonardo to paint the Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. In 1498, Ludovico grants Leonardo the ownership of a vineyard of about 16 rows, planted and cultivated in the field at the bottom of the garden of the Atellani House, the last house standing from 1490 of a hamlet created by the Duke.
However, when the King of France’s troops vanquishes and imprisons ‘Il Moro’ in 1500, Leonardo leaves Milan. Leonardo will never stop taking care of his vineyard. When the French confiscate the Vineyard, Leonardo finally manages to take it back and on his death bed he mentions it, leaving part of it to servant and another part to his pupil, Gian Giacomo ‘Salaì’ Caprotti.

Museum temporarily closed to the public

Enter Leonardo da Vinci’s world, discover his passions and the traces that these have left in the city of Milan, a city deeply connected to the master artist of the Renaissance.
In the early twentieth century, the architect Luca Beltrami, author of the reconstruction of the Castello Sforzesco and an important scholar of Leonardo, obtained from the comparison between the documents the exact position of the vineyard in the garden of Casa degli Atellani, then just restored by the famous architect Piero Portaluppi. In 1920 Beltrami photographed the remains of the vineyard and published his research in a book, entitled "La Vigna di Leonardo". Just in time, before it was covered by the rubble of the bombing of 1943.
Thanks to the will of the owners of Casa degli Atellani and the Piero Portaluppi Foundation, under the patronage of the President of the Republic and the Italian Government, In the twenty-first century, an unprecedented historical and scientific research was carried out by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Milan in collaboration with the leading expert in the field, Professor Attilio Scienza. Archaeological excavations have allowed to find and bring to light the paths of the original rows and, from the analysis carried out on the samples found in the excavations, it was possible to reconstruct the complete genetic profile of the vine - Malvasia di Candia aromatica - and in 2015 replant it.

Caffetteria closed to the public

A side from hosting Leonardo’s Vineyard, the Atellani House in Corso Magenta offers its guests a friendly Cafe, opposite Santa Maria delle Grazie Cathedral.
Our Cafe is not just for those who come to visit the Vineyard but also for passers-by who wants to have coffee or lunch with a view on Bramante’s beautiful dome.
The menu is simple and seasonal, offering an ample choice of traditional italian dishes.
The perfect setting where tasting a glass of the world's most unique wine, as the story it tells.

Informations

THE MUSEUM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

For any further information write to [emailprotected].

- Free admission for:
• holders of the Milan Lombardy Museum Subscription card
• holders of Zani Milan Pass voucher
• visitors with disability with a companion
• external groups with tourist guide

PHOTO AND VIDEOS
Tripods and telescoping stands may not be used.
Permission for any professional photography of video filming must be obtained from the Piero Portaluppi's Foundation in advance by writing to: [emailprotected].

ADMISSION
The Casa Museo degli Atellani and Vigna di Leonardo are pleased to welcome visitors with disabilities and their accompanying persons to offer them a museum visit. It is necessary to specify that Casa degli Atellani is a historic Renaissance residence and has some architectural barriers that make wheelchair access difficult.

• Email[emailprotected]
• Phone+39 02 4816150
• Instagram@lavignadileonardo

MUSEUM TEMPORARILY CLOSED

Not available tickets

Not available tickets