Review: ‘Da Vinci – The Genius’ Manchester

It was a bitterly cold day in November as four went on an adventure to the wonderful Museum of Science & Industry in Castlefield, Manchester to see the eagerly-awaited 'Da Vinci - The Genius' exhibition.

After dumping our overnight gear at our friends' house in Hale, we hopped on a tram to Castlefield and made our way to the museum. Set in a building away from the main site, we were guided by some very friendly and welcoming staff who promised we 'wouldn't be disappointed'.

And we certainly weren't. The whole exhibition was very well put together. It was clear the organisers had thought of every last detail. It was informative and interesting without being too over-the-top and still fun enough for any smaller guests.

I particularly enjoyed the analysis of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and looking at the giant original colour and infra-red versions of the famous painting. I won't reveal the secrets discovered behind the artwork as that would spoil things for you. But it was well worth the ticket price.

As for Da Vinci's visionary inventions, such as the helicopter, parachute, scuba diving suit and military tank, they had been recreated for the exhibition and I thoroughly enjoyed walking around each one, learning more about Da Vinci's thought process behind each piece.

Children will particularly enjoy the interactive features of the display which were created by the Anthropos Foundation of Italy and Grande Exhibitions, and is the most comprehensive travelling exhibition ever created on Leonardo Da Vinci.

All too soon, the exhibition was over but I felt it was just enough. Da Vinci was a genius of our times and they'd covered the subject perfectly. Leaving the museum, we all chatted away happily about what we'd learnt as we walked into Manchester city centre to enjoy the German Christmas markets, German beer and cheese-filled sausages. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday in Manchester!

‘Da Vinci – The Genius’ is based at the Museum of Science & Industry in Castlefield, Manchester. Tickets are priced at £7.50 for adults, £5 for concessions or £20 for a family ticket. Tickets are available at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 847 2261.

4/5 ****

Highlights: Being able to play with the interactive features and discovering the secrets behind the Mona Lisa