A Havana museum now houses a permanent exhibition of wooden reproductions of the inventions of Italian painter, philosopher and investigator Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), pieces that can be touched, felt and experienced by the public.

They are in the form of interactive machines and marvelous inventions taken from Da Vinci’s designs and projects in a giant display at the entrance to the San Francisco de Asis Convent’s Blanco Salon in Old Havana, where it will be a constant feature.

The display is a replica of the original exhibition in the Santa Maria del Popolo monumental complex in Rome, based on Leonardo’s sketches in his Atlantic Codex, a 12-volume encyclopedia containing a large part of his scientific intuitions, drawings and writings.

Various cities in the world, such as Sao Paulo, Brazil, San Francisco in the United States and the Chilean capital have displays similar to those in Popolo Plaza, and these have now been joined by Havana.

Brought to Cuba by the Italian Anthropos Foundation in collaboration with the Havana City Historian’s Office, the Genius of Leonardo da Vinci exhibition comprises more than 100 pieces, his visions on flight, war, anatomy and painting.

Sergio Terni, Anthropos representative, informed Prensa Latina that, taken as a whole, they represent the universe of Leonardo. "We want children to enjoy it, see it all. It’s an exhibition for them, for schools, for everyone interested in Leonardo’s works."

Terni was one of the principal agents of the Havana project, inspired by the complex in Rome. In its Agostiniana Gallery I met Modesto Veccia, president of Anthropos. I spent more than two hours there, amazed by everything," he recalled.

"Veccia told me that there are similar exhibitions in various parts of the world, but I immediately said that there was one missing: Havana. That is how it all began.

"The pieces were constructed by craft workers under the supervision of engineers, in woods with characteristics similar to those used in Da Vinci’s era. They are reproductions faithful to all of Leonardo’s designs, with the same measurements indicated in his notes," Terni emphasized, adding that as it is an interactive museum, repairs to the pieces in the event of deterioration have been planned in.

The Anthropos Foundation also intends to renew the exhibition. Other thematic displays are scheduled throughout the year, focused on the human anatomy, water and painting, among others.

The maquettes displayed represent Da Vinci’s dreams: to be able to move, travel, and the prelude to what would subsequently be major inventions.

Flight, for example, was one of his great desires. In his collection of ideas on parachutes Leonardo explained that if a man had a canopy of 12 arm lengths each side and 12 in height, he could jump from any height without suffering any damage at all, he intuited.