L'Incontro

Among the ring of hills encircling the city of Florence is one on the eastern side that stands out particularly. Known as the Incontro, it rises 559 metres above sea level and offers a panoramic view of the city. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain its name, one of the most intriguing being a legend that two of the most charismatic figures from the Middle Ages – Saint Francis and Saint Dominic – actually had a meeting there. On foglio 17r of the Codex Madrid II is a drawing by Leonardo of the hills surrounding Florence; near Villamagna he has traced a simple outline with the word “L’Incontro”.