Valtiberina
Leonardo takes an interest in the Valtiberina on physical map RLW 12277 and, above all, on RLW 12278; particularly significant for him must have been San Sepolcro (the city of Piero della Francesca and Luca Pacioli), Anghiari (with its memories of the battle fought and won by the Florentines on June 29, 1440), La Verna (for its Franciscan heritage, its works of art and the ice-hole mentioned in the Codex Leicester) and Caprese, the alleged birthplace of Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Strangely enough, Leonardo indicates "Pratomagno", a ridge that in reality divides the Casentino area from that of the Upper Valdarno, in an erroneous position, on the other side of the Tiber and of Cittą di Castello, and thus in Umbria instead of between Vallombrosa, Loro Ciuffenna and Poppi. It is probable that Leonardo had, instead, indicated Pratomagno in the correct position, but in handwriting now become almost illegible in the obscurity that accentuates the mountain's height, on physical map RLW 12277.
Anghiari
On map RLW 12278 Leonardo represents Anghiari, a fortified town in whose vicinity was fought the famous battle represented by Leonardo in the Council Hall of Palazzo della Signoria in Florence. An apocryphal description of the historic event is found in the Codex Atlanticus (ff. 202 a-r, 202 a-v).
Badia Tedalda
By 'Badia de' Tedaldi', Leonardo indicates the ancient abbey known as Badia Tedalda, in the vicinity of the Ravenna fortress of Cicognaia.
Caprese Michelangelo
By 'Caprese', Leonardo indicates today's Caprese Michelangelo, now considered the most probable birthplace of the great artist (as opposed to a minority who believe him to have been born at Chiusi della Verna).
Castello di Montauto
By 'Monte Acuto', Leonardo indicates the Castello of Montauto in the Commune of Anghiari.
Montedoglio
Leonardo represents and indicates the stronghold of Montedoglio in the Commune of Sansepolcro.
Monterchi
A medieval fortress, rebuilt by the Florentines in the 15th century. In the chapel of the cemetery Piero della Francesca frescoed, around 1455, the 'Madonna del Parto'.
Pieve Santo Stefano
An ancient Roman settlement, medieval castle and centre famous for such Renaissance works as its Della Robbia majolicas.
Sansepolcro
By 'Borgo a San Sepolcro', Leonardo represents with special importance the fortifications and names the city of Piero della Francesca and Luca Pacioli on map RLW 12278. Further reference to Piero is found in the Codex Arundel (f. 190v), while in the Codex Atlanticus (ff. 202 a-r, 202 a-v) Sansepolcro is mentioned in an apocryphal writing for the description of the 'Battle of Anghiari'. In Ms. L (f. 2r) there is a memorandum relevant to Vitellozzo Vitelli and to a book by Archimedes 'from Borgo a San Sepolcro'. Leonardo's intellectual biography during the late 15th century and the first years of the 16th is characterised by his relationship with Luca Paioli.
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Texts by Alessandro Vezzosi, in collaboration with Agnese Sabato
English translation by Catherine Frost
Last update 05/mar/2008