The Machines of Leonardo da Vinci: Genius and Innovation.
Leonardo da Vinci as You’ve Never Seen Him Before: In Bologna, the Machines That Changed History
From September 24, 2026, to January 17, 2027, Palazzo Pallavicini in Bologna opens its doors to an extraordinary experience: “Leonardo da Vinci’s Machines: Genius and Innovation.”
A must-see event that takes visitors to the heart of the Renaissance, offering a journey into the visionary mind of Leonardo da Vinci. Blending ingenuity, art, and innovation, the exhibition invites guests to explore up close the extraordinary machines and groundbreaking ideas of the Genius, through an immersive experience designed to amaze and captivate both adults and children.
Overall, the exhibition features around thirty of Leonardo da Vinci’s machines, faithfully recreated in wood and other materials based on the original drawings of the great Italian genius. These are masterpieces of precision, produced in the prestigious Set Design Laboratory of Pusa University in Assisi, the result of meticulous research and historical reconstruction.
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Useful Information
Dates and Opening Hours
From 24/09/2026 to 17/01/2027
Tuesday to Sunday
from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM)Special Opening Days
- October 4, 2026 – Sunday – Saint Petronius, Patron Saint of Bologna
- November 1, 2026 – Sunday – All Saints’ Day
- November 2, 2026 – Monday – Bridge holiday
- December 7, 2026 – Tuesday – Bridge holiday
- December 8, 2026 – Tuesday – Immaculate Conception
- From December 27, 2026 to January 17, 2027 – open every day, including Mondays
Special Closures
- December 25, 2026 – Friday – Christmas Day
- December 26, 2026 – Saturday – Saint Stephen’s Day
Tickets
- €16 Full price
- €14 Reduced (ages 14–18, over 65 with ID, under 26 students with valid student card, military personnel with ID, tourist guides with ID when not working, trainee and freelance journalists registered with the professional order, companions of visitors with disabilities, ICOM members, Touring Club Italiano members, AICS Bologna members with ID, Demanio employees with badge, subscribers to the Palazzo Pallavicini mailing list)
- €13 Holders of a ticket from another exhibition currently on at Palazzo Pallavicini
- €12 Bologna Welcome Card, Bologna Congressi and Cultura Card holders
- Family Ticket: 1 or 2 adults + children (ages 6–14) → €12 reduced per adult
- €8 Reduced child ticket (free for children under 6)
- €12 University Friday (for all students with a valid university ID)
- €12 Visitors with disabilities holding a certified disability document or Disability Card (INPS-issued)
- Free: children under 6; licensed guides visiting for professional, study or training purposes (upon accreditation request)
- €12 Groups (min. 10 – max. 25 people) **
- €6 Schools (2 free teachers per class, free entry for H/104 students) ** **For groups and schools, booking is mandatory via segreteria@palazzopallavicini.com
- €18 Open ticket: valid for entry at any time and on any date, including public holidays
Services
- Pets are allowed only inside carriers, or you can book a dog-sitting service via www.bauadvisor.it
- The cloakroom is unattended; visitors are advised not to leave valuables
- Smoking and the consumption of food and drinks inside the exhibition are strictly prohibited
Important Information
Access for wheelchair users (non-electric wheelchairs only) is available exclusively via a tracked stairlift system, Model Jolly Ramp D3000010 provided by TGR, with a maximum load capacity of 140 kg (combined weight of person and wheelchair). The system is used for two flights of stairs totaling 38 steps. The full technical sheet is available at: https://tgr.it/prodotto/jolly-ramp-montascale-mobile-a-cingoli/- Exhibition venue: Palazzo Pallavicini, Via San Felice 24, 40122 Bologna
- Exhibition title: Leonardo in Bologna: The Machines of Genius
- Period: 24 September 2026 – 17 January 2027
- Opening days: Tuesday to Sunday, including public holidays (closed on Mondays)
- Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM (last entry 6:30 PM)
- Model production: Set Design Laboratory of Pusa University, Assisi
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Press Release
The exhibition unfolds through a journey that highlights the versatility of Leonardo’s ingenuity, capable of effortlessly spanning across different disciplines. Among the standout models that visitors will be able to admire up close are the famous bicycle, inspired by the well-known 1493 drawing, and the revolutionary parachute, a true direct challenge to the force of gravity. Pure mechanics take shape through the continuously moving hammer, the wind meter (anemometer), and complex lifting systems such as pulley weights and the double-weight pulley. There is also no shortage of devices that played a key role in the history of modern engineering, including the gear shift, the piston, and the jack. Each piece tells the story of a man who was able to look centuries ahead of his time, translating the laws of physics into pure mechanics. The craftsmanship of the reconstructions—combining period materials such as wood, rope, iron, and canvas with a strict adherence to the Codices of Leonardo—ensures the highest level of historical and scientific accuracy within the evocative setting of the frescoed halls of Palazzo Pallavicini.
“This exhibition aims to break down the barriers between art and science, offering Bologna an event that combines visual wonder with historical rigor,” the organizers state. “Being able to display these models, born from the excellence and expertise of the Set Design Laboratory of Pusa University in Assisi, at Palazzo Pallavicini is a unique opportunity for the public to become acquainted with one of the most brilliant minds of all time.”
Curated by Francesca Bogliolo and organized by Pallavicini Srl, led by Chiara Campagnoli, Deborah Petroni, and Rubens Fogacci, the exhibition has been designed to deliver an engaging and immersive experience. The machines on display will allow visitors to directly understand the laws of physics behind them and to experience Leonardo’s prophetic intuition firsthand. The exhibition route will be enriched with explanatory panels and historical insights, guiding the public through the secrets of the great inventor.