It was here that, at the court of his splendid patron Francis I, he reached the peak of his knowledge and fame. We visit the Louvre in Paris to see some of his most celebrated masterpieces and, finally, Amboise where he died and is buried. The rest of the day is at leisure with dinner this evening in a local trattoria where we have our first encounter with the local cuisine. We begin to absorb the convivial atmosphere which is so much a part of the Italian heritage and which was an integral part of the Renaissance scene. This morning after breakfast we take our first steps into the city that saw Leonardo's introduction to the art of painting.
Lunch is under own arrangements and the afternoon is at leisure for sightseeing and shopping.
Dinner this evening is under own arrangements. We go out of Florence to spend the day in Vinci , Leonardo's birthplace located in the green hills to the west of the city. Upon arriving we will begin to absorb the atmosphere as we enjoy the scenery from the vantage point of the central square of the old village. This adjoins the 13th century castle founded by the mediaeval lords of the area, the Conti Guidi. This now houses a museum where, in the course of a guided visit, our interest will be absorbed by the models of the machines created by Leonardo, which are exhibited here.