Tuscan paradise where da Vinci's genius bloomed

The landscape of Vinci was a rich source of inspiration for the prolific artist and inventor. [AFP]

Butterflies flutter around centuries-old olive groves in Vinci, the Tuscan village where Leonardo da Vinci was born and honed his inventor skills as a child by studying the local flora and fauna.

Locals preparing to mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo's death say little has changed among the vineyards, lush fields and brooks that appeared in his art.