Rome Airport Hosts Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit on Oct 12

A major exhibition of all the flying machines designed by Renaissance inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci opens on October 12, 2011 at Rome's main international airport, which is named after him.

"Leonardo's genius" will exhibit 20 models faithfully reconstructed by skilled craftsmen and experienced engineers from original drawings by Leonardo.

The centrepoint of the exhibition will be the over 12-metre-high Vertical Flying Machine which will be on show at the airport's Terminal 1 in an open area before passenger security checks.

Three "touch screens" will allow visitors to interact with the content of the exhibition, organisers said.

A recently discovered 16th-century painting "Leonardo's portrait of Acerenza" believed by most scholars to be an unsigned portrait of Leonardo in middle age will be on display during the first week of the exhibition.

On the outdoor terrace adjacent to Terminal 1, the public can also visit an 'Immersive Gallery' offering 3D screenings of moving and static images, movie clips, documentaries and audio commentary recreating the world of Leonardo.

Some 36 million passengers pass through the airport - Italy's largest - each year.

The exhibition runs for six months and his being organised jointly by Aeroporti di Roma and the Foundation Anthropos.