Fiesole and Monte Ceceri (Part 3 of 3)

The Second Discovery:

After discovering the quarries of Monte Ceceri, we walked to the top of the hill.  The top is about 400 meters high, or more than 1300 feet above sea level.  Monte Ceceri is now covered with trees, but 500 years ago the hill was bare. It would have been a good place to launch a glider.

The legend, which might be true, is that Leonardo da Vinci successfully tested a flying machine there in 1506.  The story is that da Vinci and his assistant Tommaso Masini took the flying machine to the top of Monte Ceceri in a cart.  The flying machine was assembled and then tested with Masini as pilot.  Depending on the source, Masini flew the machine between 1,500 feet and 3,000 feet down the hill, landing near the town of Fiesole below.  Upon landing, Masini broke a leg and some ribs.  The landing spot is commemorated with a plaque on a road later named "Largo Leonardo da Vinci".

If the legend is true, then perhaps da Vinci and his fearless assistant Masini conducted the first successful human flight ever.  Perhaps the test never happened and perhaps someone else long before made the first successful human flight.  Who knows?

Below are some photos of our visit to the top of Monte Ceceri, now known as Piazzale Leonardo.

A map of the top of Monte Ceceri

Having a good time at the top of the hill

A stone marker at the top of Monte Ceceri.  (A rough translation: "The first large bird will carry out the first flight by jumping from the top of Mount Ceceri, filling the universe with amazement and all records of his great fame, giving eternal glory to the places where he was conceived.")

The view today from Piazzale Leonardo, with Florence in the distance.  There were no trees present in 1506, only a sheer cliff over the top of a quarry.

Since little is known about the test (assuming it actually occurred), it remains uncertain which experimental machine was flown that day in 1506.  Below are two of da Vinci's drawings of flying machines.  

"Design for a Flying Machine", a 1488 drawing by Leonardo da Vinci

Drawing by Leonardo da Vinci for a gilder with bat wings

While hiking to the top of the hill, we noticed an engraved stone by the path, pictured below.  The stone commemorates da Vinci's contribution to human flight on Earth and perhaps someday intergalactic travel. 

Thanks for joining our visit to Fiesole and Monte Ceceri.  Wishing you safe travels.