It was on 1 March 2013 when the exhibition "Leonardo3 - The World of Leonardo" opened in Milan in Piazza della Scala, at the entrance to the Galleria. The exhibition was originally intended to be only temporary, but since then it has been renewed every year and is now considered a permanent museum. Ten years later, the Leonardo3 Museum, which welcomes more than 230,000 Italian and foreign visitors every year, continues to evolve and amaze with its collection of Leonardo's machines, consisting of more than 200 interactive 3D models and working physical reconstructions, many of them never before seen. Leonardo da Vinci is a national heritage that is part of world culture. And the success of the Leonardo3 Museum lies in the fact that all the content on display is the result of the work of its own Research Center, which has been researching the genius' work for 20 years. The result has been the creation of interpretations and reconstructions of unseen machines, as well as experiences related to the works of art, allowing the museum to constantly renew itself. All of this is done by encouraging interactivity and the use of innovative tools.
"The results of these ten years of activity attest the importance of the Leonardo3 Museum, which has grown and certainly contributed to enriching the city's cultural offer," says Elena Buscemi, President of the Milan City Council, who continues: "To reach such an important milestone, looking ahead by opening up to collaborations with institutions such as the Politecnico and the Music Conservatory, innovating its offer and thinking about new projects together with renowned artists, is certainly the right way to go. It can only be for those who have been inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci".
The news and partnerships presented to mark the 10th anniversary are significant and will contribute to further enhancing the cultural and tourist offer of the city of Milan. "After 10 years, 1.5 million visitors, thousands of school visits and 230,000 tickets planned for 2023, we are aware of the responsibility of being a de facto museum, one of the most visited in our city. That is why we are working to offer organic and complementary content to that of the Museo di Scienze e Tecnologia (Science and Technology Museum), the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (Ambrosian Art Gallery), the Last Supper and the Sforza Castle (Castle)," says Massimiliano Lisa, director of the Leonardo3 Museum, adding: "The aim is for the Leonardo3 Museum, located just a few steps from the statue of Leonardo, to become part of the inalienable heritage of this city. After years of applying our concept of a research center/museum, doing everything ourselves, we have initiated a series of collaborations that we are announcing today: from the one with the professor Martin Kemp, to those with the Politecnico, the Music Conservatory, the director Marco Cassini and the director of photography Davide Manca".
Martin Kemp, Emeritus Professor of Art History at Trinity College, University of Oxford, considered the world's foremost Leonardo scholar, says: "The extraordinary success of Leonardo3 over ten years is evidence of the living presence of Leonardo da Vinci even today, more than 500 years after his death. No other historical figure inspires such a fascination in our modern imagination. This fascination is particularly true when it comes to his mechanical inventions. Reconstructing his machines requires careful research and imagination, as his manuscripts do not contain fully explained drawings. I am looking forward to my new role of dialogue with Leonardo3 in the historical interpretation of Leonardo's drawings. We will also have new ideas. We still have ten exciting years ahead of us.
