Visiting Milan allows you to discover not only the world’s capital of fashion, but also one of the cities most deeply connected to the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci.

This day tour is ideal for those who wish to explore both the artistic genius and the private life of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest minds of the Italian Renaissance. Painter, scientist, engineer, and inventor, Leonardo profoundly shaped the history of art and modern thought.

Throughout the tour, your guide will reveal lesser-known details and historical insights into Leonardo’s personal life, shedding light on aspects often overlooked. Known for his reserved and introspective character, Leonardo formed deep emotional and personal bonds with several of his male pupils. One of the most significant relationships of his life, lasting nearly twenty years, was with the young apprentice Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salai—nicknamed “the Devil’s Little Lamb” for his mischievous behavior. Their relationship has long been the subject of scholarly discussion within the context of Leonardo’s queer history.

The tour begins at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, home to the extraordinary Codex Atlanticus, a monumental collection of twelve volumes comprising 1,119 pages of drawings and writings by Leonardo. Here you will admire sketches and studies that laid the foundations for many technologies still in use today. The visit also includes Leonardo’s “Portrait of a Musician” and Caravaggio’s “Basket of Fruit.”

Founded in the early 17th century, the Ambrosiana Library and Gallery has long been a center of scientific and cultural exchange. The Codex Atlanticus, preserved here since 1637, contains Leonardo’s notes and research on mathematics, astronomy, optics, engineering, hydraulics, anatomy, fables, culinary ideas, war machines, and even early concepts of flight. The Ambrosiana was among the first public libraries in Europe, reinforcing its role as a hub of shared knowledge.

When Leonardo arrived in Milan, he entered the service of Duke Ludovico Sforza, designing military and theatrical machinery. At the Sforza Castle, the ducal residence, he created one of his most celebrated decorative works: the Sala delle Asse, with its astonishing painted ceiling inspired by nature. Leonardo also orchestrated spectacular court events using his inventions, leaving guests amazed by the immersive settings he designed.

The highlight of the tour is the visit to “The Last Supper,” Leonardo’s most enigmatic masterpiece, housed in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Immortalized in popular culture by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, this fresco remains extraordinary not only for its innovative technique, but for its psychological depth. Through the masterful use of light, shadow, and gesture, Leonardo reveals the inner emotions and symbolic roles of each figure, making the scene timeless and profoundly human.