Homemade pasta, beautiful churches, delicious gelato, glamorous haute couture and a cultural history like nowhere else. There's already a legion of reasons to visit Italy, but 2019 brings another as the country its celebrates one of its original artistic exports: Leonardo da Vinci. May 2 marks 500 years since the death of the original Renaissance man, known for his incredible contributions to art and science.
 
Born in -- the clue's in the name -- the Tuscan town of Vinci, he spent most of his life in Florence, Milan and Rome. Five centuries later, some of his most famous artworks can be found dotted around these three urban hubs. So what better way to celebrate da Vinci's legacy than to literally follow in his footsteps in Northern Italy?