Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyard

Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyard is a vineyard the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Maria Sforza best known as Ludovico il Moro, gave as a gift to Leonardo da Vinci in 1498 while he was working on the painting of Last Supper in the nearby refectory of the cathedral and Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

[4] He photographed the vineyard that was then on the same spot when cultivations were beginning to be eradicated; at that time a resolution passed to subdivide the territory in lots to build new constructions.

The Italian Wars broke out, and the French army invaded the Duchy of Milan, forcing Ludovico Sforza to flee and repair to Innsbruck, and Leonardo left the city as well, heading towards Mantua.

In his last will, compiled in Amboise, a month before his death, he disposed that the rectangular vineyard was to be subdivided into two equal lots: one to be assigned to Sir Salai, who had there previously built his own house, and the other to Giovanbattista Villani, a faithful servant of his, who had followed him to France.

Leonardo's Vineyard came to new life with Expo 2015, by the will of Portaluppi Foundation and the owners of the adjacent Atellani House, under the patronage of the President of Italian Republic and thanks to the contribution of the University of Milan (Università degli Studi di Milano).