Until October 5 Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in Cartagena

“Los viajes de Leonardo da Vinci” at the castle of La Concepción in Cartagena

Throughout the summer of 2025 over 100 items related to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci are on display at the Castillo de la Concepción which looks out over the city and harbour of Cartagena, allowing visitors to gain glimpses of the incredible mind which illuminated Europe, and especially the city of Florence, in the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries.

The exhibition follows da Vinci’s life from his childhood in Vinci to the cities where he created many of his masterpieces and inventions, Florence, Milan and Rome, and finally to his last years in Amboise, in the Loire valley in France. Looking at the exhibits, visitors can appreciated the man not only as the artist behind the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper but also as a great engineer, anatomist, philosopher and architect – in short, a visionary whose legacy still helps shape the world today.

Among the items on display are models made from designs in the Codex Atlanticus including a catapult, a revolving door, a flying machine, beating wings and a system of bicycle gears not dissimilar to the ones still in use. In addition there are replicas of objects from the maestro’s studio, including anatomical studies, measuring instruments and designs which eventually led to the Vitruvian Man.

Other areas are dedicated to the Cámara Oscura and the enigmatic smile of La Gioconda.

A number of activities are programmed alongside the exhibition, including:

• “De Leonardo a Vitruvio. El arte de medir la belleza”, a guided tour which includes the old church of Santa María la Vieja, the Palacio Consistorial and the Roman Theatre, discovering how Leonardo’s principles of architecture work. The tour takes place at 11.00 on April 13, 17, 18, 20 and 27 and May 1, 4, 11, 18 and 25 and registration is priced at 16 euros (14 euros reduced rates, 8 euros with the Cartagena Puerto de Culturas card).

• Family escape room “El códice secreto de Leonardo”. Event dates are April 27, May 4, 11, 24 and 31 and weekends in June, starting at 17.30 (12.00 on Sundays in June). Tickets are priced at 10 euros.

• “Pinceladas y vermú con la Mona Lisa”, a watercolour painting workshop in the gardens of the castle. Dates 11.30 on April 12 and 26 and Saturdays in May (except the 17^th). Registration costs 25 euros.

• “La Gioconda y Da Vinci. Atrapados en el tiempo”, a dramatized family tour featuring guessing games and other activities. Dates April 12, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 26, May 1, 3, 10 and 31, start time 18.30, price 15 euros.

• “El misterio de la Última Cena de Da Vinci”, a dinner date with Cluedo as entertainment on the terrace outside the castle. Dates June 13 and 20, September 5 and 12, starting at 21.30. Price 70 euros.

Booking for all of these events is available online here or via Cartagena Puerto de Culturas (telephone 968 500093).

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.