An Afternoon with Leonardo
Venice boasts many exhibitions throughout the summer varying from art and music, to the world of invention. For many weeks I’ve been planning on visiting the exhibit of the interactive machines of Leonardo reproduced from his drawings. If you’re a movie buff, you’ll find this exhibition in the church that was featured in the third Indiana Jones film in Campo San Barnaba.
The exhibit presents over 30 models of mechanical, building, flying and war machines. The “machines” have been made of wood, metal, and fabric on a scaled down version for things like flying machines and boats for war to life size exhibits that deal with light, all produced by skilled and qualified Florentine artisans under expert engineer’s supervision. Some of the models are interactive and can be handled by the public, others that are more fragile have a strict “Do Not Touch” policy, but for the engineer in all of us it becomes an interesting walk through the pages of Leonardo’s notebook, but may not be perfect for younger children. You don’t need very much time to visit the exhibition, maximum of an hour. The information for each model is presented in Italian, English, and French.
Some of the models include The Glider, Cam Hammer, Air Screw (forerunner of the helicopter), Helical Gear, The Bicycle, and Archimede’s Screw for lifting water.
Where: Chiesa di San Barnaba
Campo San Barnaba
Cost: Aduts €6,00
Reduced €4,00
Schools €2,50
When: Open everyday from 9:30am – 7:30pm
From Now until December 30, 2008
Public Transport: Vaporetto Line #1, Ca’ Rezzonico Stop
Info: Gianni Tarchiani
Via Pescine, 39
50010 S. Donato in Collina (Firenze)
Cell: 335-537-9071
Email: giannitarchiani@virgilio.it