The exhibition kicks off with an information corridor about the Renaissance, our two main characters, and of course Florence itself. It’s a bit tight in there, so entry is regulated at the door – you might not get in straight away, but do make sure you arrive on time.

After this burst of information, you reach the first voting machine – brilliantly designed as a pair of hands.

Next up is the first VR headset. With it, you’re whisked off on a journey through Renaissance Florence. You start inside Santa Maria del Fiore, soar up to Brunelleschi’s dome, admire the frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, then glide out through a window for a sweeping view across the city.

From there, you step into Michelangelo’s workshop – a rather cold space, filled with blocks of stone, some untouched, others half-carved. Then it’s on to Leonardo’s studio, where a fire glows warmly, flying machines dangle from the ceiling, and in one corner someone is working away at a painting.

With those impressions fresh in mind, it’s time for the next vote – and on into the following room.

Next comes the big immersive room, where the works of both artists are presented. There’s a constant back-and-forth between Leonardo and Michelangelo – and they even talk to each other! It’s in Italian (with Catalan/Spanish translations), but you can still get the gist.

Michelangelo’s most significant works are featured:
– David in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence → the city’s most famous artwork and possibly the most important sculpture of all time
– Pietà in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome
– Pope Julius II from his tomb in the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome
– The frescoes of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums, Rome

Seeing these masterpieces together like this is truly breathtaking – of course, seeing them live is even more impressive, but having them all here in one place is pretty amazing too.

And the same goes for Leonardo da Vinci!

Leonardo’s most significant works are featured:
– The Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
– Mona Lisa and St John the Baptist in the Louvre, Paris -> The most famous Painting of the world
– The Vitruvian Man in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Venice
– Lady with an Ermine in the National Museum, Krakow

Alongside these, his flying machines and war inventions are also showcased. A genius, no doubt – though for me, it’s less “art” in the traditional sense.