Traveling with Leona – Leonardo Style   by Barbara A. Hardesty

Leona, named after Leonardo da Vinci, is a chicken from Ancona, Italy. Ubiquitous with Da Vinci Capers ~ A Personal Renaissance Journey, (a week-long travel adventure experiencing the arts in Italy) you will find this busy bird nipping at terra cotta, dabbling with paint or writing her memoirs. She begins, “My name is Leona from Ancona. I’m a chicken, not a rooster…”

Why a mascot of a chicken and not, for example, the lion you see on every door in Italy? Leonardo recognized the importance of these feathered friends – they were his models for studying flight – the glider was a direct result. He was also their protector. Like a warden with a big heart, he would buy birds in the market just to set them free. “Better death than to be without freedom,” Leonardo would say.

But mostly, I’m just a champion for the funny fowl. They have the reputation of being frenetic and rather stupid. And, there’s a line of truth to this. But, don’t be hasty to paint this picture of all chickens.

Alas, Leona is smart, sassy and fearless. She epitomizes Leonardo’s lessons – Sfumato, taking risks and living with uncertainty; Sensazione, she will peck at just about anything (even your hand!), and Curiosità, she loves to explore (“Why did the chicken cross the road?”…)

Note: Thank you Michael J. Gelb, author of international best-seller, How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci, for distilling Leonardo’s lessons.

Leona Flies the Coop
Last month to celebrate Da Vinci Capers’ fifth year anniversary, Leona returned to her roots and flew to Italy. Along with participants from around the world, Leona experienced Da Vinci Capers in Ravello. You will be able to follow Leona on her adventures as she painted in the beautiful Cimbrone gardens, had a photography workshop with Massimo Bassano, cooked at Villa Maria with Chef Falcone, and learned about composing music with Fabrizio Soprano.

Now, back on this side of the Atlantic, Leona is ready to have new adventures. She’s curious and a dare-devil, and is up for just about anything! She has experienced her first Halloween, visited Boyd’s Bear Country in Gettysburg, will soon ride farm animals at a Virginia ranch, mingle with penguins in the Antarctic, and eat strudel in the Big Apple. These experiences will be recorded in her Blog, “Where’s Leona?” along with photos, short videos and a tracking map. Armchair travelers will now be able to have a little fun while staying close to home!

Interested in hosting Leona? Contact: Barbara Hardesty,
barb@davincicapers.com.

History of Ancona Chickens
Leona’s heritage is from Ancona, Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. Her breed was once considered the most beautiful in all of Italy and prized for her eggs, full breasts and rose-colored comb. Her “beauty marks” are very distinctive – black feathers with silvery tips.

Today, she is considered “Rare.” That is not to diminish her popularity. Many books speak of her uniqueness. There’s even an Ancona chicken club in England, where she first traveled outside of Italy! She then immigrated to the United States around the turn of the century, during the hey-day of Ellis Island. Yes, like many of us, Leona is from an immigrant family – settled in Baltimore and has since moved to Colorado, her present home. For those of you who are into chickens and want to know the nitty-gritty about this breed, you can find more information in the Da Vinci Capers’ web site. http://www.davincicapers.com

About the Author

Barbara Petrarca Hardesty is a writer, first-class dabbler of the arts, and keeps energized by her new Rancilio espresso machine. After discovering her Italian roots, she returned for a degree in Humanities and Italian, managed a cooking school in Tuscany and created, Da Vinci Capers ~ A Personal Renaissance Journey. To contact: (303)284-1383 or e-mail, barb@davincicapers.com.
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