The date of Leonardo’s birth is not known with any certainty. Leonardo’s mother was one Caterina, who afterwards married Accabriga di Piero del Vaccha of Vinci. Leonardo di Ser Piero d’Antonio di Ser Piero di Ser Guido da Vinci-for that was his full legal name-was the natural and first-born son of Ser Piero, a country notary, who, like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, followed that honourable vocation with distinction and success, and who subsequently-when Leonardo was a youth-was appointed notary to the Signoria of Florence. Leonardo’s traditional birthplace on the outskirts of the town still exists, and serves now as the headquarters of a farmer and small wine exporter. Outside a house in the middle of the main street of Vinci today a modern and white-washed bust of the great artist is pointed to with much pride by the inhabitants. Vinci is still very inaccessible, and the only means of conveyance is the cart of a general carrier and postman, who sets out on his journey from Empoli at sunrise and sunset. Leonardo Da Vinci, the many-sided genius of the Italian Renaissance, was born, as his name implies, at the little town of Vinci, which is about six miles from Empoli and twenty miles west of Florence.
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