Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum

A significant chapter in the life of the great Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci is inextricably linked to the city of Milan. Leonardo arrived at the court of Ludovico Maria Sforza, known as il Moro, in 1482, and a few years later he received the commission to paint the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Here he would create Leonardo’s only mural painting, The Last Supper, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. To reward Leonardo for his loyal collaboration, Ludovico presented him with a vineyard of approximately 16 perches situated at the bottom of the garden of Casa degli Atellani, a 15th-century residence that once belonged to Ludovico il Moro.

Close to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie stood a prestigious property which on 25 September 1490 Ludovico il Moro gifted to the nobleman Signor Giacometto di Lucia della Tela, regarded as his loyal squire; from that moment the villa took the name Casa dei della Tela, which would later become Casa degli Atellani. It is here that Leonardo’s small vineyard is located, a place of such importance to the artist that in his will he stipulated the land should be divided into two equal plots to be assigned one to his favourite pupil Gian Giacomo Caprotti (known as il Salaì) and the other to Giovanbattista Villani, his faithful servant.

Having survived the years of French invasion and partially destroyed during the 1943 bombing raids, Leonardo’s Vineyard is now a beautiful park surrounded by lush greenery where, after years of research, the vineyard that existed in the 15th century has been replanted and the Vineyard Museum has been established.

Things to do at Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum

Almost five hundred years after Leonardo’s death, it is possible to discover aspects of his life connected to Milan through the Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum. In the garden of Casa degli Atellani, aromatic Malvasia di Candia vines have been replanted – the same varieties that the Italian artist cultivated over half a century ago. The first bottle produced from the vines replanted in the garden is now on display in the Bernardino Luini Portrait Room at Casa degli Atellani.

Visiting Leonardo’s Vineyard means discovering one of the most enchanting yet little-known locations in the city. This oasis is home not only to the Atellani residence with its historic furnishings, but also to the villa’s park, partly devoted to vineyard cultivation and partly occupied by the Garden of Delights. During your visit you can admire the remaining traces of what was once the ancient Borgo delle Grazie, the residential quarter so desired by Ludovico il Moro for his courtiers.

In the 20th century Casa Atellani was restored by the renowned architect Piero Portaluppi, thanks to whom we can admire walls adorned with frescoes and decorations often belonging to completely different styles ranging from the Renaissance to Art Deco. Beyond the residence, vineyard and garden, the complex also houses a café located just steps away from the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, making it perfect for lunch or a break with a view of the famous tribune designed by Bramante.

Tickets for Leonardo’s Vineyard

Entrance tickets for Leonardo’s Vineyard can be conveniently purchased online. The ticket includes a digital guide to the city of Milan available in 6 languages.

Combined tickets

Alternatively, you can purchase a combined ticket that will allow you to visit, along with the Vineyard, other attractions such as the Cenacolo Vinciano.

Free entry with the Milan Pass City Card

Admission to Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum is included in the Milan Pass, the city card that allows you to save on admission to many other attractions such as the Duomo terraces, the Scala Theatre Museum or the Ambrosiana Picture Gallery.

History of Leonardo’s Vineyard

At the beginning of the 20th century, architect Luca Beltrami, the same man who supervised the restoration of Castello Sforzesco, succeeded in recovering the precise location where Leonardo’s vineyards had been positioned, following extensive research. In 1920, Beltrami also published a book entitled “La Vigna di Leonardo” in which he presented the results of his studies regarding the vineyard that belonged to the great Renaissance genius. The manuscript proved invaluable for future research, particularly since the property was partially destroyed by bombing in 1943.

In the 2000s, Leonardo’s Vineyard regained interest and thanks to investigations conducted by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Milan in collaboration with Professor Attilio Scienza, the original position of the vine rows was brought to light once more. Furthermore, analysis of samples found revealed that the grape variety once planted here was aromatic Malvasia di Candia. Thus in 2015 the vine was replanted and in 2018 the first harvest took place. Its grapes were collected and left to ferment in a large terracotta jar, which was then buried according to the ancient Greco-Roman method. The first bottles from the project were subsequently put up for auction for charity with proceeds invested in research projects to combat leukaemia and lymphomas.

If you’re a Leonardo enthusiast, don’t miss visiting Museo Leonardo3, the Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci and, of course, the Cenacolo Vinciano Museum.

How to reach Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum

The best way to reach Leonardo’s Vineyard Museum is undoubtedly by public transport. The nearest metro stations are Cadorna, located approximately 600 metres from the site, and Conciliazione. Alternatively, you can take Tram no. 16 (Monte Velino – San Siro Stadium) to the S. Maria delle Grazie stop or bus lines no. 50 and 169 to the Via Boccaccio stop.