Podestà’s Hall

Podestà’s Hall is the most prestigious room in the Castle of Vinci, which, after coming under Florentine rule, became the residence of the podestà in 1372. In this hall, the podestà—officials sent from Florence to administer justice in the countryside—left traces of their presence through paintings and sculptures bearing their names, family crests, and the year of their appointment.

On the eastern side stands the large Renaissance fireplace made of pietra serena stone, commissioned by the podestà Neri Ventura in 1478, while on the northern side stands out the glazed terracotta Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist by Giovanni della Robbia. On the western wall, a small opening testifies to the ancient passage that until the 13th century allowed access to the tower via a staircase 13 meters long.

In this hall, on May 3, 1478, Leonardo was present at the signing of a contract through which his uncle Francesco and his father Ser Piero obtained the perpetual lease of a mill located below the castle walls. A special clause added to the contract at his uncle’s initiative would have allowed Leonardo to enjoy the lease in case of extinction of the legitimate lineage.