As the ultimate Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci is as relevant and admired today as he was during his lifetime. Indeed, there’s really no underestimating the scope of his discoveries and creations. From mathematics to science and architecture to music, he is considered a genius through and through.

But da Vinci will forever be primarily renowned as a painter – and one of the best ones at that. Yet, while I always knew of him, I never truly appreciated his exceptional work until I visited the National Gallery’s blockbuster exhibition: Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan, which brought together artworks by da Vinci from as far afield as St Petersburg and New York.

It was a showcase of talent and celebrity on a monumental scale. Just to give you an idea of its extent, we queued for seven hours in the freezing cold just to be able to buy tickets. We were instructed to go back five hours later (i.e. at 10pm) to actually be allowed in.

Awe-inspiring is probably the only word that can describe being among so many masterpieces by da Vinci. The exhibition took place some three years ago now, but it truly opened my eyes as to why da Vinci manages to mobilise so many people from all over the world to go to see his paintings – wherever they me be.

Italy

As many know – or may assume from his name – Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy, and that is why your journey into this artist’s work should begin here.

Italy’s most famous da Vinci artwork is the fresco depicting the Last Supper at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and many are often surprised to discover just how big it is.

Measuring 4.6 metres by 8.8 metres, this is a titanic piece of art and, while it may not look as vivid as it did 516 years ago, this will give you a clear idea of just what made this man a living, breathing legend.

Milan is also home to two of his lesser-known paintings: Portrait of a Musician and Portrait of a Lady in Profile – the latter of which is disputed. Worry not, however, as they are both located at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Sala delle Asse at Castello Sforzesco, where a lesser-known, but equally-beautiful, fresco can be found.

The Lucan Portrait of Leonardo has been recently attributed to the master due to the fingerprints discovered on it

Once done from Milan, head to Turin, where the disputed yet world-renowned Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk, which many believe to be a self-portrait, hangs proudly at the Biblioteca Reale. While, further south in Parma, the Galleria Nazionale houses Head of a Woman – the sketch made famous by the Drew Barrymore – and Angelica Houston-starring film Ever After. This sketch, sometimes also referred to as La Scapigliata, is made with earth, amber and white lead on wood panel, but the woman’s expression is so romantic and pretty that you’ll be lost for words.

The next stop has to be Florence, where the Uffizi has three wonderful da Vinci paintings: The Annunciation, The Baptism of Christ and The Adoration of the Magi. But, with so many other masterpieces lining its walls and dotting its floors, make sure you give yourself a whole day or two to roam through the Uffizi.

The next stop on your Da Vinci Spotting trip in Italy is Rome. Firstly, go to the Vatican Museums, where the unfinished St Jerome in the Wilderness will give you an idea of how the master worked. Then head off to the Galleria Borghese, where a recently-attributed (but not yet confirmed) painting, the Madonna and Child with St Joseph, sits patiently.

Finally, go to the Museo delle Antiche Genti di Lucania in Vaglio Basilicata, where the mystery of da Vinci will engulf you once more. The Lucan Portrait of Leonardo – although not exactly in da Vinci’s usual style – has been recently attributed to the master due to the fingerprints discovered on it, which matched those on the Lady with an Ermine. Did he paint it? Or do these fingerprints belong to an apprentice who helped da Vinci with his other work? The search continues.

France

And it leads us to Paris, where the world’s most famous art gallery and museum plays host to the most famous and most parodied painting of all time: The Mona Lisa. This painting, while it has an infamous history, has had quite a peaceful existence and hasn’t really travelled much.

Its ambiguous smile draws millions every year and, while you won’t get to see it for longer than 30 seconds over a sea of cameras and phones, being five feet away from the most well-known painting in the world is a wonderful experience in itself.

Obviously, you don’t have to come here straight from Italy or you may even want to start and end your trip here.

Whatever you do, however, don’t just stop at The Mona Lisa as the Louvre also has six more da Vinci artworks: The Virgin and Child with St Anne, La Belle Ferronnière, Portrait of Isabelle d’Este, St John the Baptist, Bacchus (although this has not been confirmed by experts) and one of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code’s main game changers: the Louvre’s version of the Virgin of the Rocks.

This version feels less medieval and less mystical than its English counterpart and seeing them both is key to understanding the miniscule, yet-shocking, details that have set off a thousand tales.

The UK

Across the channel, the second version of the Virgin of the Rocks is located at the National Gallery in London along with two further paintings associated with the same commission (side panels that were most probably created by Leonardo’s associates), as well as The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist and the disputed Tobias and the Angel – which is gorgeous either way.

Further north, all the way in Edinburgh, in fact, the Scottish National Gallery currently houses The Madonna of the Yarnwinder, which is also known as The Buccleuch Madonna. This painting is on long-term loan from the Duke of Buccleuch Collection. Make sure you visit it before it’s taken away.

Moreover, this painting of the Madonna also has a twin brother in a private collection in the US, known as The Madonna of Lansdowne. It is believed that Leonardo worked on both these paintings during his lifetime, although no one can seem to agree on how much of it is his work.

The US

These paintings have witnessed society redefining itself time and time again, but they are still aesthetically intriguing

Apart from those in private collections, the US is home to two other da Vinci artworks which globe trotters can see: Ginevra de’ Benci and The Dreyfus Madonna. The former is generally accepted as his work and was acquired by the National Art Gallery in Washington DC for $5 million in the 1960s – a record sum of money at the time.

The latter is disputed and had been attributed to both Verrocchio and Lorenzo di Credi before. The main problem with this painting seems to be the poor quality of the child’s anatomy, which has led many to believe that it can’t be Leonardo’s work.

Germany, Poland and Russia

The last four generally undisputed artworks by da Vinci are in the east of Europe, with Germany and Poland claiming one each, while Russia having two.

The über-famous Lady with an Ermine can be found at the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland; the Madonna of Carnation, which many believe was painted over by a Flemish artist, is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany; while the Benois Madonna and the Madonna Litta (which is a painting of the baby Jesus suckling at the Virgin Mary’s breast, are located at the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia.

The important thing to keep in mind, whether you visit one or all of da Vinci’s artworks, is the story behind them. While these paintings have witnessed society redefining itself time and time again, these paintings – as well as other work, including the Vitruvian Man at the Gallaria dell’ Accademia in Venice, Italy – are still aesthetically intriguing and they are still part of our collective lore. And that makes them worth the plane ride or 10.