Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology is located in the very center of Milan, a few steps from the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, it has been operating since 1953. It is the largest museum in Italy in the field of science and technology, as well as one of the most important museums in Europe. This is because the institution has preserved the greatest examples of how Italy developed from an engineering and industrial point of view.

History of creation

The construction of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology dates back to the 1500s, and at first its purpose was to house the monks of the Olivetan order. Since the 1950s, it has housed a gallery entirely dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), from which the museum gets its name: this gallery houses drawings and models of machines by the Tuscan genius. In addition, since 1958, grandiose Queen Margarita mechanisms have been installed at the entrance to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, which were opened in 1895 by Queen Margarita of Savoy. They were developed to generate electricity at the Egidio and Pio Gavazzi silk factory in Desio, which operated until the early 1900s.

Technical Collection

The central part of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology housed most of the historical collections, as well as interactive works that eventually found development in certain areas. In this regard, pavilions have been created to create the so-called "transport collection". Upstairs there is a fascinating collection that traces the entire history of flight: from the era of pioneers to jet planes. There is also a memorable railway pavilion inside, built in 1967, which houses about twenty antique locomotives, railway wagons and tools used during train movement.

The Greatness of genius

The Da Vinci Gallery allows you to see Lombard Renaissance paintings and a realistic installation dedicated to Leonardo's drawings. More than 1300 square meters and 170 historical models, works of art, antique volumes and installations are stored in the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. The new galleries completely rethink the historical layout from which the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology was opened to the public in 1953, and represent a unique cultural resource designed to inspire new generations, the world of research, and enthusiasts of all ages. The figure of Da Vinci is explored in its historical context, the emphasis is on his curiosity and his ability to observe and interpret nature, along with attention to the works of his contemporaries, with whom he is in constant dialogue.