Donated in 1919 to the City of Vinci on the occasion of the celebrations for the fourth centenary of Leonardo’s death, today the Castle of the Counts Guidi is the second exhibition area for the Leonardo Museum.
The fortress was built by the Counts Guidi in the 12th century, but the building we see today is actually the result of major restoration work carried out between 1939 and 1942, aimed toward the purpose of housing the Library and Museum dedicated to Leonardo. Since 15 April 1953, the Castle has been the headquarters of the Leonardo Museum, and today it houses the exhibition sections dedicated to war machines, bridges, studies on flight, water, and optics, mechanisms, instrumentation, the bicycle, and the self-propelled carriage.
Lastly, at the tower summit, the visitor’s itinerary comes to an end at the panoramic terrace, offering spectacular views over Vinci and the surrounding landscape, of great inspiration to Leonardo himself.