Vinci Archives • Folksy Travel by Bill Smale

June 23, 2026June 23, 2026

Leonardo from Vinci

many people from long ago were named after the place they came from especially if they were nobility or their profession or what they look like. Leonardo was from Vinci. This is a cute little town you can get to buy Bus number 49 from Empoli Which is not far from Firenze. There were not that many tourists visiting when I was there so it was very quiet and not very crowded.

Leonardo statue Leonardo from Vinci — Of course there is a statue in the middle of town

Horse statue Leonardo from Vinci — A replica of the famous horse

Explanation of the horse statue Leonardo from Vinci — Explanation of the horse statue

Map of the attractions Bill Smale — At the welcome center you will receive this map of the different places and prices for the places you can visit. If you want to visit his “birthplace” you need to either go by car or walk 2 km.

Senior citizen ticket Bill Smale — Of course I got a discount ticket

Beautiful view Bill Smale — A beautiful view from the church of Vineyards and Olive GroveS

The town church Bill Smale — The church in town was built and redone several times and you can read the story when you get there

Leonardo baptized font — This baptismal font is celebrated as the one used to baptize Leonardo

The church from the outside front

Churchview — Another view from the church

As I start walking up the path to the house

Olive groves — Mostly Olive Groves Beginning at the town and going up the hill towards the house

All along the path almost the only trees where Olive trees

Difficult walk — I expected there would be a well maintained path up to the house. It was 37°C outside, walking uphill and almost half of the path is actually a rocky river bed. It was not the easy walk for 2 km I expected

Old house — There was nothing along the path except this will used House or farm or whatever

Thistles — Beautiful thistles on the path

Some orange red puppies along the second half of the walk

The birthplace — Finally I reached the birthplace

The living area

Living area — There is a video in this room explaining the life of Leonardo

Records — The records do not indicate this is the birthplace of Leonardo. They do indicate that after Leonardo was born his father became the owner of this house

Nice view — I think you are looking down on Empoli Here

Old chairs — Very old chairs

The house — The two houses which were joined to become one house

The path back — Finally getting back into Vinci

Beautiful clouds — Olive Trees. But I took this photo because I love the clouds