Leonardo's Day

A celebration for the Genius in his hometown

Leonardo's Day is the annual event through which the Municipality of Vinci, in the province of Florence and the heart of Tuscany, celebrates the birth of Leonardo da Vinci, who was born right here on April 15, 1452. For one day, the entire Montalbano village dresses up in the city's colors, yellow and red: flags wave from balconies and windowsills, while streets and squares come alive with locals, families, and visitors arriving to pay homage to the universal Genius of the Renaissance.

The origins of the tradition

The event has its roots in the post-war period: the first official edition of Leonardo's Day was held in 1959, following the grand 1952 celebrations for the five-hundredth anniversary of his birth, which brought state dignitaries to Vinci. Since then, the festival has grown year by year, while preserving its most cherished rituals and becoming one of the defining traditions of the Tuscan territory.

The iconic moments of the day

Certain events are unmissable at every edition and set the rhythm of the festivities:

• The laying of the laurel wreath at the birthplace in Anchiano, the hillside hamlet where Leonardo was born: this is the gesture that officially opens the celebrations.
• The historical pageant in Renaissance costume, accompanied by the sound of clarions and drums, which parades through the center.
• The cake-cutting ceremony in Piazza Guido Masi, a convivial moment that concludes the day in the late afternoon.

Art, workshops, and culture

A dense program develops around these rituals: dozens of side events distributed across over ten locations in the village, including workshops for children and adults, activities and visits to the Leonardian Museum, talks, exhibitions, theater and street art performances, historical re-enactments, and proposals linked to the theme chosen for the year. The festival thus unites the popular and cultural dimensions, enhancing the deep bond between Vinci and the Leonardian legacy.

Vinci, city of Leonardo

Visiting Vinci on the day of the festival means discovering a village that lives entirely in the sign of its Genius: from the Leonardian Museum housed in the Conti Guidi Castle to the birthplace in Anchiano, from the panoramas of the Montalbano to the streets of the center, everything tells the story of the world that shaped Leonardo's ingenuity. The event, with free admission, is promoted by the Pro Loco of Vinci with the support of the Municipality and local associations.