Why is the Santa Maria delle Grazie so famous?
A Renaissance masterpiece, Leonardo Da Vinci’s the ‘Last Supper’ draws hordes of visitors to Milan every year. With good reason: the artwork is possibly one of the most famous paintings in the world, not to mention a true showcase of Da Vinci’s artistic genius.
You’ll still find it where it was first unveiled – on the dining room wall of the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a Renaissance church that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Observe the figures’ realism, take note of all the tiny details dotted across the mural, and marvel at Da Vinci’s clever use of perspective.
Is it worth seeing the ‘Last Supper’?
Any work by Leonardo Da Vinci is worth seeing at least once in your lifetime (would you go to Paris and not check out the ‘Mona Lisa’?), and the ‘Last Supper’ is no exception.
Perhaps one of the most famous paintings in the world, Leonard da Vinci’s The Last Supper has been reproduced to death, so much so that you might question the point of seeing it in person (especially considering that very little of the original painting remains today). But no tote bag or even large-scale reproduction can adequately capture da Vinci’s emotionally charged mural.
The Italian polymath developed a specific type of fresco painting for it – rather than applying paint onto wet plaster, he painted on the drywall with a combination of egg tempera, oil paint and other mixed media – made use of linear perspective in a truly innovative way, and ultimately created one of the most remarkable Renaissance artworks ever. If these aren’t good enough reasons to book a visit, we don’t know what is.
Do you have to book to see it?
Given its masterpiece status, the ‘Last Supper’ has quite a lot of hype around it, meaning lines to see it can be long. And we mean long. Advance booking is essential if you want to make sure you can snag a peek too, as visitor numbers are limited to 35 to 40 for each time slot.
How much are tickets?
Tickets start from €15 for adults (children under 18 get in for free but must still reserve a spot) and include entrance to Santa Maria delle Grazie as well as access to the on-site museum dedicated to the painting, its creator, and the restoration projects behind it all. As it’s extremely delicate, flash photography and videos of the mural are strictly prohibited, and visits are capped at 15 minutes.
Where’s good to eat nearby?
Natural Break is a mostly vegetarian eatery that makes for an excellent lunch spot nearby – you can order at the counter, canteen-style, from a selection of dishes made fresh daily. A 10-minute walk from the church you’ll also find Da Zero, one of Milan’s best pizzerias, open for lunch and dinner.
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