Leonardo da Vinci Museum
Leonardo da Vinci Museum
There are two Locations
Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Venice
Leonardo da Vinci museums are a dime a dozen in Italy… At first, we thought: let’s just write the text and use photos from Rome or Florence—it’s all pretty much the same anyway. 🙂 After all, we’ve already visited three of these museums in Rome and one in Florence (and there’s actually a second one there, too…).
Luckily, we decided to do things differently. 😀 That would hardly fit with our philosophy! So Susi went to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in the Scoletta di San Rocco and says herself: “This is the best Leonardo da Vinci museum we’ve visited!” And she ought to know!
the two
Locations
Scoletta di San Rocco
find out more
Chiesa di San Barnaba
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Who was Leonardo Da Vinci?
find out more
In Venice, we first visited the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in the Scoletta di San Rocco. Next time, we’ll make a point of seeing the city’s second Leonardo museum as well.
The museum in the Scoletta di San Rocco, however, was a real stroke of luck! But see for yourselves. 😉
1. Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
School of San Rocco
My Rating:
The Positives:
The best Leonardo da Vinci Museum we've visited (and we visited a lot)! It's bright, spacious, well-designed, and offers many interactive exhibits.
The Negatives:
Although there are information panels in other languages, the informational video is only shown in Italian with English subtitles.
Tip:
Book your ticket online to avoid potential waiting times.
Last Modification: 21.04.2026 | Céline & Susi
Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
La Scoletta Tickets
The details
at a glance
What is there
to see?
The tour begins in a large room displaying a variety of paintings, along with over 300 of Leonardo’s drawings and sketches. Information panels and screens provide further insight into his works. Some of the paintings are shown at their original size and illuminated with state-of-the-art lighting, making them truly spectacular.
Upstairs, visitors can get hands-on with Leonardo’s many inventions. The machines are displayed as miniatures, demonstrating key principles of physics for both young and old. With simple instructions, you can try building “your own” stable bridges or domes. The Da Vinci Bridge, for example, is a self-supporting arch bridge that requires no pillars, foundations, screws, nails, or other fasteners—its stability comes entirely from its structure and the interplay of forces.
Similarly, the dome he designed holds itself together without additional materials. Wooden rods are arranged to support one another, distributing weight so that the construction remains standing.
Leonardo was also commissioned to design war machines. Among these, he created an armoured vehicle—a war cart powered by men inside and equipped with cannons and other weapons. He also sketched various catapults, siege engines, and slings. His imagination knew no bounds.
Hanging from the ceiling are geometric shapes and flying machines. His fascination with flight is evident in his sketches of:
- An ornithopter, a device inspired by the flapping of bird wings
- A parachute, in a pyramid-like linen structure
- A helicopter, or “aerial screw”
If hands-on experimentation isn’t enough, visitors can sit in front of a screen to learn more about the life of this genius through films. Many of his inventions worked in theory but failed in practice—like his “aircraft.” Nevertheless, his studies remain invaluable for understanding the dynamics behind new machines.
We haven’t yet visited this Leonardo da Vinci Museum, located in the Chiesa di San Barnaba. It’s firmly on our to-do list for our next trip to Venice.
2. Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
Chiesa di San Barnaba
My Rating:
Note:
We haven't been there yet, we've only walked past it. The setting looks promising, though: the museum is actually located inside the church! The website also looks a bit more inviting than the Scoletta's ;)
Last Modifiction: 21.04.2026 | Céline & Susi
The details
at a glance
Who was
Leonardo da Vinci?
Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance artist, scientist, and inventor. Today, he might be described as a true all-rounder or polymath. His curiosity and knowledge spanned countless fields, and his ideas and experiments had a lasting impact on technology and medicine.
He was born in 1452 in Vinci, a village near Florence—hence the name da Vinci, which literally means “from Vinci.” He lived in various Italian cities, including Florence, Rome, and Milan, and he passed away in 1519 in Amboise, France, where he spent his final years.
As a painter, Leonardo made history with his extraordinary technique. His most famous works are undoubtedly the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
As an architect, he drew plans for bridges, fortresses, and cities designed to function perfectly in his eyes.
As an engineer, he created designs for machines and flying devices.
As a scientist, he displayed a profound interest in nature, studying plants, animals, and human anatomy. He was the first to publicly assert that the heart is a muscle.
Fortunately, Leonardo documented much of his knowledge in writing, leaving behind an astonishing collection of ideas, sketches, and inventions.
Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance genius whose work continues to inspire and fascinate people of all ages. Given the sheer volume of his accomplishments, it’s almost a mystery how he ever found time to sleep—or eat! 😉
Official website of the museum in the Scoletta: interactivedavincimuseum.com/
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2023–2026
With support from Susanne Vukan.
