LA VIGNA DI LEONARDO
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A small vineyard which, according to legend, belonged to Leonardo da Vinci.
Just a stone's throw from Santa Maria delle Grazie lies a small vineyard which, legend has it, belonged to Leonardo da Vinci, a gift from Ludovico il More, Lord of Milan, in 1498 in gratitude for his work at the Sforza court. The tour takes in the Casa degli Atellani, which belonged to a family of courtiers loyal to the Sforza family in the 15th century, and is bordered by Leonardo's garden and vineyard. It retains little of its original décor, but is one of Milan's most romantic settings. The building was completely restored by architect Piero Portaluppi in the 1920s. The visit begins with the two large courtyards, decorated with frescoes and the remains of ancient statues. Inside, we discover the small Zodiac room, named after the astrological signs painted in the high lunettes. In the next room, 14 portraits of members of the Sforza family are painted on the ceiling, a sign of the Atellani's devotion to the lords of Milan. Further on is the study of Ettore Conti, the great industrialist and last occupant of the house, covered with carved woodwork (17th century). The vestibule then opens onto a sublime garden, an elegant green oasis in the heart of Milan. Finally, we reach the small vineyard, where agricultural archaeology studies have made it possible to reproduce the 16th-century grape variety. A small harvest every two years yields some 300 bottles of the highly prized Malvasia.
The Vigna di Leonardo, which was recently bought and taken private, is no longer open to visitors at the time of updating this guide.
