A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN ITALY
Along with Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel yet another masterpiece that completely mesmerized me ever since my university days when I studied art history was The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. It is on the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. What's more? It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It would be a dream come true to see it with my own eyes. But unfortunately, I wasn't that gifted. When I tried to book the tickets for it on the day I was visiting Milan, there weren't any left!!!
The best of the Top places to visit in Milan:
However, when I visited Milan, I didn't want to just miss it altogether. So I just went over there, just to see its exteriors! At least to have the feeling that I was there... So the evening after going to Duomo Milano, I visited Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Pic Credit: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
History of Santa Maria delle Grazie:
It was originally built as a convent and church in the same location. Guiniforte Solari was the architect of the convent, which was built in 1469 under Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza. Later on, the idea of a church was reconsidered and the place was used to build a cloister and apse and the Duke & his wife were buried there.
Where is the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci located?
The concept of Last Supper painting is a very interesting concept in various categories. One, is its technique which is Fresco Succo which is a dry fresco, unlike the traditional damp fresco, which Da Vinco experimented on here, and unfortunately, it didn't work out well and it began to peel in his own lifetime!
Two, the perspective of the painting. If you're sitting at a dining table, you'd be sitting around it, not all on one side. However, this painting depicts Jesus and his apostles, all on the same side, with a single-point perspective. The reason, this was painted on the wall of the dining room of the convent. So, the painting looks like an extension of the room itself. 2 dining benches along the side walls and the painting on the 3rd, which gives an impression that it is the 3rd bench on which Jesus & his apostles are seated!!!
Santa Maria delle Grazie during WWII:
During WWII, Santa Maria delle Grazie suffered severe bombing which destroyed some walls of the church. Fortunately, the wall which has the painting was sandbagged and it survived the war!
Again, very very unfortunately I didn't get to go into the church..... Sad......... :(
Here are some photos of the exteriors of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan which houses Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper.
Scroll down for practical details, tickets, location, how to reach etc.
Where is Santa Maria delle Grazie (on Google Maps)? Santa Maria delle Grazie
How to reach Santa Maria delle Grazie? Santa Maria delle Grazia is about 4km from Milan Central Railway station and about 2km from Duomo di Milan. The nearest metro stations to Santa Maria delle Grazie are Cadorna and Conciliazione. Cadrona is connected by Metro line M2 from Milano Centrale railway station. Conciliazione is connected by Metro line M1 from Duomo di Milano.
Updated Jan 2023
Santa Maria delle Grazie Church Tickets: Free! (This doesn't include the Last Supper)
Santa Maria delle Grazie Church Timings: Weekdays 09.00AM to 12.20PM and 03.00PM to 05.50PM. Weekends: 03.00PM to 05.50PM. (This doesn't include the Last Supper)
Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie Tickets: €15.00
There are way too many sites that sell tickets for entry and I had a tough time figuring out which is real and which is fake, so let me make your life easier - Official Last Supper Tickets by Cenacolovinciano, the official site of Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.The tickets are personal, meaning, you have to pre-book a ticket with your name as mentioned in your ID.
Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie Visit Timings: 8:15 AM to 07:00PM from Tuesday to Sunday. However, you can go on only if you pre-book a ticket where your timeslot is mentioned. A visit to the Last Supper room lasts only for 15 minutes and only 30 visitors are allowed per time slot.
That's a real shame that there's so many vendors selling fake tickets. It really ruins the experience for travellers. Still, at least you managed to visit this beautiful church and convent. So lucky that the painting survived the bombing!
ReplyDeleteI'd really love to visit milan italy one day... One of my dream place to visit... So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading about your travels! i want to travel the world one day and Spain is definitely high on my list.
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame. It's very difficult to get tickets unless you are on a tour. They sell out so quickly online. We had some spare tickets from our group and some lucky people who hadn't realised they had to book got them.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I visited it had just been renovated, it took twenty years and there was a lot of criticism about the amount of previous restoration paint that had been removed. I have to say it is really beautiful even thought the colours are not vivid they are beautiful and much more like the original according to the restorer.
Ahhh, I remember this place vividly! It is such a unique place. The design and architecture is so unlike most of the surrounding religious sites. And the process to get inside was pretty wild.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer to not be able to go in! I didn't know the history of the building. That is very cool.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Milan but not to this particular place. Such a shame you could not go in though. I guess the inside must be as stunning as the outside
ReplyDeleteBeautiful building. I also missed going inside this place when we were there in Milan two years back. I really wish I could see the Last Supper in actuality in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your post I am virtually going with you. I am too excited to see Da Vinci's Masterpiece, The Last Supper. I sighed in despair that you're not able to go through. Anyway, I just refer it to Google for my frustrated view of the Last Supper. By the way, it is good that you're applying what you have learned from your subject on Art History and see by yourself of those amazing, masterpieces of arts.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that you didn't get to see the painting for yourself. I was in Como recently and considered goig to Milan just to see The Last Supper but the tickets were sold out long before I got there. It's so difficult to get them! The building itself is beautiful though.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to visit Milan and see the Last Supper painting up close. There's such a rich heritage in Milan that connects as to the past.
ReplyDeleteI din't know that the Last Supper can be found here. Silly as it sounds, I always used to think that it is a standalone painting like Mona Lisa that is kept in some museum. Glad that I read this post. he he
ReplyDeletevery informative
ReplyDeleteI think you didn't miss a lot when you missed Leonardo da Vincci's masterpiece. I'm quite underwhelmed by his works compared by other Italian artists.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately when I went to Italy last summer I didn't get to see Milan. I had to make a sacrifice so I appreciate your photos. I hate how confusing purchasing tickets for certain items can be so you were wise to just find the official site.
ReplyDeleteDon't you hate when that happens!! I did that when we visited San Francisco on our honeymoon. I really wanted to see Alcaltraz but they were sold out so we missed it. :( I vowed right then to do so much research that would never happen again! We all live and learn, right? :) I have seen the Lord's Supper and it is really amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am literally open-mouth while reading yourbpost because it is onr of the places I wish yo visit in Italy. I do hope I coild make it next year, it is so nice to read your adventures.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a lot of history to this place. With the Duke and his Duchess buried here. I sure would want to explore the same as it seems interesting from an architectural point of view too.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I do hope you'll get to come back and see the painting soon. But the exterior of the church also looks very beautiful, doesn't it? I've been to Rome but not yet to Milan, so I'm also hoping to visit this city and this church in the near future :)
ReplyDeleteI guess that any art lover would love to visit the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, which is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, one of the most famous works of art. Such a shame you could not go in though. The inside must be as stunning as the outside !
ReplyDeleteAhhh, a fellow Italy blogger! Been to Milan but did not get to this destination. It is on our list but interesting post about your situation. Wow, I need to be more careful when we return. Thanks for the info!!!!
ReplyDeleteI had the same experience when visiting Milan the first time, as it was impossible to get the tickets! Anyway, thank you for the very elaborated and professional post!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful architecture! You will have to return to get inside! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place - Europe is full of such amazing, medieval monuments and it's great to find them at every corner. I wasn't a fan of Milan but this church really looks beautiful and original - as well as the main cathedral which was spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened is really disappointing.. This place is really amazing.. Like you, I love to travel in different places around the world , I'm sure that you'll be there soon and you will see SANTA MARIA DELLA GRAZIE by your own eyes..Good luck!
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