BY DR. ANDREA DA MONTEFELTRO

Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts will take center stage in Florence on 7 November 2026, when the conference Ideal Beauty – The Renaissance of the Neoplatonic Academy brings together Renaissance scholarship, traditional bookmaking and contemporary engineering. Held in the Sala del Pegaso at Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati, headquarters of the Tuscany Regional Government, the event will feature what organizers describe as the world premiere of Spanish publisher cARTEm’s complete facsimile edition of the Madrid Codices I and II. The presentation concerns a reproduction of Leonardo’s manuscripts, rather than the discovery of previously unknown codices.

Leonardo’s Manuscripts, Recreated by Hand

The facsimile edition will be accompanied by a scholarly volume examining the historical, scientific and philosophical significance of the manuscripts. Alongside the research, visitors will be introduced to the practical work involved in recreating such books: Adisa Raljevic will discuss reproduction techniques and craftsmanship, while Sonia Pe Escorial will demonstrate traditional hand-bookbinding. Together, these presentations will place the physical making of the edition alongside the ideas recorded on its pages.

Renaissance Thought Returns to Florence

Held under the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the conference will revisit Neoplatonic thought and its influence on Renaissance culture, linking philosophical inquiry with the study of manuscripts, artworks and historical evidence. Annalisa Di Maria will contribute historical-critical and philosophical research on Leonardo and Renaissance artists. Andrea da Montefeltro will present scientific and technical studies of kinematic mechanisms, while Lucica Virginia Bianchi will address archival and documentary research through historical sources and manuscripts.

The program also extends to Florence’s architectural and cultural heritage. Margherita Tempestini will discuss the Medici Villa of Careggi and prospects for promoting the heritage of the Medici Villas, and Vittorio Gasparrini will contribute on behalf of the Florence UNESCO Club. Organizers expect representatives of public institutions and the cultural community to attend, including Tuscany Regional President Eugenio Giani.

A Leonardo Award for Underwater Engineering

During the event, A2A is due to receive the international Leonardo – The Immortal Light Award in the Hydraulic Engineering category for its Teti Project. The system uses an underwater robot to remove sediment from hydroelectric reservoirs without draining them. According to the organizers, more than 10,000 cubic meters of sediment have already been removed at the Cancano reservoir. Alessio Mariotti, Head of Business Transformation in A2A’s Generation & Trading Business Unit, is scheduled to accept the award on the group’s behalf.

The award introduces a contemporary application of the relationship between observation, technical knowledge and the natural world that runs through the conference. While the facsimiles turn attention to Leonardo’s surviving pages, the engineering presentation will consider how research can address present-day questions of water management, environmental protection and renewable energy.

When and Where to Attend

Ideal Beauty – The Renaissance of the Neoplatonic Academy takes place on Saturday, 7 November 2026, from 9 a.m. local time, in the Sala del Pegaso at Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati, Florence. Admission is free, but advance booking is compulsory and places are limited. For information and reservations, email info@progettoleonardo500.org or contact the organizers on WhatsApp at +39 388 827 4551.

Source: La Bellezza Ideale Press Office

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