Leonardo da Vinci died in France 500 years ago, on May 2nd, 1519, at the age of 67. His works as an artist, art theorist, scientist, inventor and engineer, and the myths that surround his person still fascinate us and represent for us a real challenge. For the occasion, the Italian Culture Institute of Munich has organized a series of lectures on central aspects of his works. Particular attention will be given to the painting "Salvator mundi", with a speech by Robert Simon, a art dealer who auctioned it. The conferences (16th and 30th January, 6th and 13th February) will be held at the Central Institute for Art History in Munich. Together with the conferences, there will be an exhibition of texts and printed images, which, starting from the 16th century, document the dissemination of ideas, works and the myth of Leonardo.