Five Centuries since Leonardo da Vinci (1519-2019) | Custodia Terrae Sanctae

Five Centuries since Leonardo da Vinci (1519-2019)

A scientist, a painter, a writer… Leonardo da Vinci was all of these and much more. Five hundred years after his death, we are celebrating his greatness and genius with the exhibition  “Five Centuries since Leonardo da Vinci (1519-2019). Science and Technology in the Renaissance books owned by the Library of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem”, open to the public from 4th to 8th November.

The visitors are guided through the disciplines that were dearest and most familiar to Leonardo, along a route divided into thematic sections: earth sciences, geography and astronomy, botany and zoology, medicine, and lastly geometry and architecture. The exhibition ends with a significant work dedicated to the divine proportion, written by the Italian Luca Pacioli, a Franciscan and who worked closely with Leonardo himself.

It is an original way of telling the history of science and technology through ancient and precious editions rich in very beautiful and detailed printed illustrations. The more than 30 volumes on display, all published between the 15th and the 17th century in Europe and today kept at the General Library of the Custody of the Holy Land, show the enormous evolution of knowledge between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the encounter between Greek, Latin and Arab cultures, and between innovation and tradition. 

The exhibition is part of the project “Books bridges of peace”, created by the CRELEB of UniversitàCattolica del Sacro Cuore of  Milan in collaboration with the Custody of the Holy Land and ATS pro-Terra Santa.


Guided tours are available in Italian, English, and French, for adults and children.


Foyer of the Custody of the Holy Land
Jerusalem – New Gate
4-8 November 2019 – 9.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m.


ADMISSION FREE OF CHARGE – CATALOGUE AVAILABLE