Museums to play with Leonardo da Vinci's inventions

Visiting a museum about Leonardo da Vinci with children and playing with his inventions is a great cue to introduce children to the great genius of Leonardo and to science.
Up and down Italy there are several museums and exhibits that display faithful reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci's famous machines and that are designed specifically to make children and adults fall in love with the da Vinci genius.

Here are the best interactive museums dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci's inventions in Italy (and beyond), in an itinerary that crosses the boot from North to South.
Stay with us until the end of the article, we have prepared a treat!

In Milan, where Leonardo worked for many, many years

Admit it, when you read Milan you thought of "The Last Supper"?
But no, what we want to propose to you is not a "pilgrimage" to Leonardo's painting, but a visit to two locations in the sign of technology. In particular, we want to tell you about the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology and the Leonardo3 Museum.

Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

The Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology is one of the largest technical-scientific museums at the Italian and European level.
Of course, a space for the great inventor who lived in Milan a good part of his life, designing war machines for the defense of the city, could not be missing here.

The Leonardo Gallery houses the world's largest collection of civilian and military machines made from drawings by the artist. Among the most interesting civilian models are the revolving crane and the pile driver machine, while the spur ship garners much interest among lovers of war machines.
There is also room in the section for architecture: here, in fact, you will find exhibitedthe ideal city and flying machines.

Here if you want to buy tickets for the Museum of Science in Milan on time and without queuing.

Leonardo3 Museum

Right in the center of Milan, across the street from La Scala Theater, the Leonardo3 Museum is an important stop because inside are preserved some models of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions that you won't be able to see anywhere else, such as the mechanical eagle, the swift crossbow and the clavi-viola.
The exhibition also offers augmented reality experiences, such as the chance to sail the 16th-century canals using a Leonardo paddle boat.
And this initiative is also for you if you are interested in learning more about the original appearance of the cenacle: here, in fact, is an entire section on the subject, as well as a 1:2 reconstruction of the restored painting.

If you want to buy early Leonardo3 Milan tickets

In Venice to experiment with Leonardo da Vinci's war machines

If you are on a trip to Venice don't miss the Da Vinci Museum.
There are so many forms of reproductions of Leonardo's genius here: from digital reproductions of the most famous works, made in large format and mounted on light panels so that even those with visual disabilities can enjoy these wonderful paintings, to the section that tells us about the Leonardo inventor.

This is an interactive exhibit that houses reproductions of some of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. here it is forbidden not to touch. The stars of this section are the hydraulic and war machines that arouse curiosity in children and adults alike.
After all, who doesn't like to find out how gears and mechanisms work?
Inside the Da Vinci Museum, you can also dive into Leonardo's works thanks to virtual reality. A journey of just a few minutes, it will help you learn more about this great character through evocative graphics and cinematic sound effects.

There is also a section of the museum reserved for children's workshops, where kids can indulge in creating geometric solids. Those who enjoy difficult challenges can also try their hand at building a model of the arched bridge and geodesic dome designed by the Renaissance inventor.

Here to purchase: tickets to the Da Vinci Museum in Venice
The Da Vinci Museum in Venice is located in front of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. It can be reached on foot from Santa Lucia station in about 12 minutes. There is no need to take the ferry; to get there, just cross the Scalzi Bridge and continue in the direction of Campo San Rocco.

In Tuscany where Leonardo was born

The Museo Leonardiano in Vinci

Leonardo's interests ranged from painting, to the making of plays, to the study of anatomy and the design of military machines. Telling us about it is the Museo Leonardiano in Vinci, and it does so through a collection that even occupies two palaces, Palazzina Uzielli and the Castello dei Conti Guidi. After all, this being his hometown, it is the right place to find more information about the artist.

In the first building you will encounter an unseen Leonardo who, on the one hand, studies construction machinery, but on the other thinks of tools to mechanize textile manufacturing. The systems devised by the scholar are so innovative that some of them will be used even during the industrial revolution.
Visiting Palazzina Uzielli you can encounter some of the textile machinery invented by Leonardo, such as the four-spindle continuous spinning wheel, capable of twisting and winding the thread on the bobbin at the same time.

The Castello dei Conti Guidi, on the other hand, is dedicated to anatomy, military machines, flying machines and machines for moving on land and water. There are more than 60 models on display here. Among the most interesting are the motor chariot, probably designed as a stage machine for theatrical performances, and the paddle propulsion system boat.

To reach Vinci by car from Florence take the FI-PI-LI highway, take the Empoli exit and continue north in the direction of Vinci.
The Museo Leonardiano is located in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci.

In Florence

If you're in Florence with kids who are passionate about science and technology, in addition to the galileo-museum here's another address not to be missed: Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum in Florence is perfect for a quick excursion through Leonardo's inventions, because it can be visited in an hour.
The museum is filled with exhibition panels, which tell all facets of the artist, addressing painting, anatomical, military and physical studies. In addition, this space collects 20 cartographic drawings made by Leonardo, which also narrate his interest in geography.

The focus here is also on Leonardo's machines, most of which are interactive. The Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum houses more than 50 of them and has divided them according to the four elements: water, air, earth and fire.
In this museum you can experiment with one of Leonardo da Vinci's most interesting war machines: the tank. The model is very fascinating because it is built as if it were a section of the object, and by operating it you can observe what goes on inside.
Also noteworthy is the diver's diving suit.

Here to purchase: Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum tickets in Florence

In Rome, three museums dedicated to the genius of Leonardo

Among the cities that have dedicated museums to the inventions of the Italian genius, the capital could not be missing.
If you are planning a visit to Rome with kidsyou might include a stop on your itinerary, also because there are even three exhibition spaces dedicated to Leonardo and all of them are right in the center!

Leonardo Experience in Via della Conciliazione

On Via della Conciliazione, St. Peter's area, is the Leonardo Experience. This interactive, multimedia exhibit tells us all about Leonardo, from his flying machines to his most famous paintings.
One of the five rooms is dedicated to Leonardo's studies and inventions.
Another features 22 reproductions of his famous paintings, including the Mona Lisa and his enigmatic smile.
You can see and admire the scope of the great man's genius through audio recordings, military machines, interactive exhibits, and even holograms.

Here to purchase: Leonardo Experience tickets at Via della Conciliazione

Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Piazza del Popolo

Located in the basement of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo is the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Piazza del Popolo, there are interactive machines made by Italian craftsmen based on Leonardo's manuscript codices, studies of his most famous Renaissance works, sketches of human anatomy, in-depth videos on The Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man, and an immersive multimedia roomthat takes us on a journey inside the life and mind of Leonardo da Vinci.

Tickets and info for the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Piazza del Popolo,

Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at Palazzo della Cancelleria

In the Palazzo della Cancelleria, a stone's throw from Campo dei Fiori, we find the Exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci with more than 200 machines and 65 working wooden models made through the famous da Vinci codes. These include flying machines, war machines, mechanisms and water machines.
Visiting the museum also provides access to an underground Rome, which holds the remains of a burial temple dating back to 43 B.C. of Consul Aulus Hirtius, immersed in the waters of the ancient Euripus River. A unique and rare thing to behold in Rome.

On Saturdays and Sundays there are workshops and guided tours for families.

Here to purchase: tickets to the Exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci at Palazzo della Cancelleria

In Syracuse Archimedes and Leonardo

Italy was the birthplace of another great genius: Archimedes.

To discover both geniuses and understand how much Leonardo learned from Archimedes, one only has to visit the Museo Leonardo da Vinci e Archimede in Syracuse.
The Sicilian museum compares Leonardo and Archimedes, two top scientists.
Dedicated to children is the space "W Leonardo". with activities and educational workshops.

Genius at the castle of Clos Lucé in France

This is perhaps one of the most important destinations, because it was at the chateau of Clos Lucé in France that Leonardo, after much wandering to get himself safe from the Italian turmoil, decided to spend the rest of his life. And it was in this place that the artist died.
At the Château de Clos Lucé on the Loire, one can fully immerse oneself in the world of this eclectic character. On the ground floor, in fact, four rooms have been set up to recreate the environments in which Leonardo lived and designed down to the smallest details, from the furniture to the frescoes to the stained glass windows. In these rooms you will also find 40 scale models of many Leonardo projects (made in collaboration with IBM). Finally, 3D animations will allow you to understand more of the visionary inventions he designed.

The most interesting thing about the visit is the park surrounding the Clos Lucé castle because this is where the various life-size models of Leonardo's machines have been placed. In particular, one can enter the tank, touch the multiple machine gun, maneuver the aerial screw, and sail with the paddle boat. In addition, the park is a faithful reproduction of what a garden would have looked like according to Leonardo's writings.
Here to purchase: tickets to the Clos Lucé castle on the Loire