Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence
Collections, timetables, tickets and advice for choosing the right museum - without confusing interactive machines, reproductions and original paintings.
In Florence, "the Leonardo da Vinci Museum" does not designate a single establishment. Two private museums dedicated to the artist's machines are located on the same street, a few dozen meters from each other.
The Leonardo Interactive Museum, at 66/R Via dei Servi, emphasizes truly manipulable mechanisms, workshops and large-scale reconstructions. THE Museo Leonardo da Vinci1/R Via del Castellaccio also features machines, anatomy and facsimiles. Both are close to the Duomo and the Academy Gallery.
Two very close addresses, two experiences
Leonardo Interactive Museum
- Large tank, catapult, aerial screw, vertical ornithopter
- Hydraulic saw, press, gear wheel, odometer
- Workshops: self-supporting bridge, dome and polyhedra
- Explanations in several languages and digital reproductions
Choose it though you want to operate the mechanisms, learn by gesture or visit with children from around 7 years old.
Official website and ticketsMuseo Leonardo da Vinci
- Machines made from Leonardo's sketches
- Sections devoted to mechanics and anatomy
- Course in several languages
- Educational workshops for children and school groups
Choose it though its slot, price or route is best suited to your day. Entrance is at the corner of Via dei Servi and Via del Castellaccio.
Official website and reservationA collection to make work
From drawings to mechanisms
The journey starts from codices: a sketch, transmission or assembly is transformed into a three-dimensional model. The visitor turns a crank, moves a gear, checks for leverage, or understands the conversion of a movement.
- Flight: aerial screws, wings, platypers and parachute.
- War: covered tank, bombards, catapults and movable bridges.
- Water: archimedes screw, hydraulic saw and paddle boat.
- Mechanics: bearings, gears, chains and worms.
- Architecture: freestanding bridge, dome and geometric solids.
The value of the museum lies less in the ancient object than in the demonstration: understanding how an idea drawn in the 15th century can be put to the test by hand.
The big tank
A conical shell protects operators while the interior device makes visible the difficulty of coordinating wheels and transmission.
The endless screw
Turning the crank, we observe how slow and powerful rotation can transmit the movement to a gear wheel.
The odometer
Wheel movement is converted to counting: a concrete example of measurement applied to roads and mapping.
The bombard
The model recalls that Leonardo also works as a military engineer and studies the range, angle and mobility of weapons.
Practical information to check before departure
| Location | Official times displayed | Prices displayed | Last entry | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo Interactive Museum | Every day of the year, 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m | Dynamic prices and web promotion announced on the official website | 1 hour before closing | Online slot recommended to avoid waiting |
| Museo Leonardo da Vinci | April - October: 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m November - March: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m |
Full price €10; family €36; reduced €9; free 0 -3 years depending on conditions | 6:30 p.m. in high season; 6 p.m. in low season | Digital ticket available on the official website |
| Uffizi Galleries | To be consulted depending on the date and closures of the museum | €25 the same day; €29 in pre-sale for the full price ticket displayed in 2026 | Depending on the reserved slot | Highly recommended in high season |
| Museo Galileo | Mon. and Wed. -Sun. 9:30 a.m. -6 p.m.; Tue. 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m | €14 full price; €7 from 6 to 18 years old; family €32 | Ticket office closed 30 minutes before | Useful to complement with original scientific instruments |
Information verified on July 30, 2026. Promotions, public holidays and seasonal amplitudes may change. Always check the official website of the chosen location before traveling.
Build a consistent half day
Handle without running
- Arrive at the opening.
- Allow 60 to 90 minutes in the interactive museum.
- End with a break at Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
Machines then paints
- Interactive museum in the morning.
- March towards the Offices.
- Compare the three works in room A35.
Leonardo then Galileo
- Mechanical reconstructions.
- Descent towards Arno.
- Scientific instruments at the Museo Galileo.
The right age and the right rhythm
The Leonardo Interactive Museum recommends the experience from around 7 years old. The youngest mainly benefit from the large machines and workshops; adolescents can go further in the relationships between drawing, transmission and use.
Don't try to read every cartel. Choose four or five mechanisms, ask the child to predict movement, then let them check. This approach transforms the visit into a scientific experiment rather than a simple succession of objects.
Realistic time: one hour for a concentrated route, up to an hour and a half if you build the bridge, dome or polyhedra.
Three works to see next at the Uffizi
Room A35 brings together three essential stages of young Leonard: learning at Verrocchio, autonomy The Annunciation and the vast unfinished project of The Adoration of the Magi.
The Annunciation
Around 1472, oil on wood, 90 × 222 cm. The garden, perspective and wings inspired by observation already make Leonardo's method visible.
See reproduction
The Adoration of the Magi
Around 1482, drawing, ink and oil on wood, 244 × 240 cm. Its incompleteness reveals the progressive construction of the crowd and the gestures.
See reproduction
The Baptism of Christ
Around 1470 -1475, tempera and oil on wood, 177 × 151 cm. Leonardo intervenes in Verrocchio's workshop, particularly on the angel on the left and the landscape.
See reproductionThe Leonardo da Vinci collections of the store
Find famous paintings, portraits and religious works in the form of hand-painted reproductions.
Before you buy your ticket
What is the best Leonardo da Vinci museum in Florence?
To operate large machines and participate in workshops, the Leonardo Interactive Museum at 66/R Via dei Servi is the most explicit choice. The nearby museum of Via del Castellaccio offers another route of models, anatomy and facsimiles.
Are there real paintings by Leonardo in these museums?
No. They present reconstructions, facsimiles and reproductions. The three major Florentine originals are exhibited at the Uffizi Galleries.
How much time should you allow?
Allow about an hour for the essentials and up to 90 minutes if you read the instructions and take advantage of the workshops.
Do you need to book?
Reservations are not always essential, but they secure a slot in high season, on weekends and during school holidays.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes, especially from around 7 years old. The manipulable mechanisms and the construction of the bridge make the physical principles concrete.
Can we come by car?
The historic center is in a limited traffic area. It is easier to walk from Santa Maria Novella or use public transport.
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