Carlo Vecce

Historian, Italian philologist and professor Carlo Vecce is one of the foremost experts on the figure of Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance culture. He has directed cultural cooperation programmes in India and China and was elected a member of the prestigious Italian Academy of Sciences dei Lincei. He is currently a professor at the University of Naples L'Orientale. The fascination with the world of Leonardo da Vinci has ancient roots and usually people are only interested in certain "mythical" elements, such as the famous smile of the Mona Lisa, or the enigmatic theme of the Da Vinci Code. But Vecce reveals more important things in his book than secrets and mysteries. Above all, it is a spirit of exploration, free of any preconceptions and focused only on truth; the love of nature, of life, of the beauty of creation. It is in this context that he recalls da Vinci's mother, Caterina, her origins, her personality and the spirit that may have influenced him. The woman who gave life to a genius, who suffered much but fought and triumphed, is also a symbol of freedom and hope for today's world.