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Milan: Da Vinci's Last Supper Guided Tour
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The Last Supper, also known as Il Cenacolo, is a mural painting created by Leonardo da Vinci using a mixed dry technique on plaster located in the refectory of the convent adjoining the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The refectory was the place in the convent where the friars would gather to eat, pray and meditate during their meals. The work, which can be dated to around 1494-1498, was commissioned by Ludovico il Moro and is considered a true masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was built around 1460 thanks to Gaspare Vimercati, commander of Francesco Sforza’s militia, who donated a plot of land to the Dominican friars on which a small chapel already stood, decorated with an image of the Madonna “of Grace”. Here the Dominicans undertook both the construction of a convent, which was to be their seat, and the realisation of a large church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Towards the end of the fifteenth century, with the rise to power of Ludovico il Moro, the complex underwent various enlargement and restructuring works. In particular, in addition to carrying out numerous works on the Church, Ludovico il Moro summoned important artists to his court to paint the walls of the Convent’s refectory. It was in this very moment that Leonardo da Vinci created the work “The Last Supper”, which was included together with the Church on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Around 1482 Leonardo da Vinci moved from Florence to Milan at the court of Ludovico il Moro. Here he dedicated himself to important works such as studies on water management systems for the Navigli, the Castello Sforzesco and the project for the Equestrian Monument to Francesco Sforza, father of Ludovico il Moro. The Duke had chosen the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie as a place to celebrate his power and had financed important restructuring works throughout the complex. Bramante was called for the church’s tribune, whilst Donato Montorfano and Leonardo da Vinci were called for the convent’s refectory.
Donato Montorfano created a representation of the Crucifixion, whilst Leonardo created a depiction of The Last Supper, which is the only mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci visible today. The painting is based on the Gospel of John 13:21, when Jesus reveals that he will be betrayed by one of his apostles and is based on the tradition of the numerous “cenacoli of Florence”. In the foreground is the dining table with the figure of Christ at its centre and around him the apostles arranged in four groups of three. Everything has been executed with truly exceptional symmetrical balance.
Since Leonardo did not particularly enjoy the fresco technique, he chose to paint on the wall as he painted on panel using a “dry” technique. This choice allowed the artist to create a refined work, rich in detail and with excellent colour unity, which however became the source of numerous conservation problems, especially due to the moisture in the environment. During the bombing of the Second World War, the complex was severely damaged but Leonardo’s work managed to survive. Over time The Last Supper has been the subject of numerous studies by experts and also many reinterpretations. Among the most famous is certainly that of the mystery novel “The Da Vinci Code” by writer Dan Brown.
Already a few years after its execution, the work showed the first signs of deterioration and for this reason it has been subjected to restoration work several times. The last major restoration was completed in 1999. To preserve the painting as much as possible, measures have been implemented such as air quality control in the refectory and a limited number of visitors allowed. For this reason The Last Supper can only be viewed by reservation with pre-established visiting times.
To discover everything about Il Cenacolo and Leonardo’s world, we recommend visiting the Leonardo3 Museum and the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan, dedicated precisely to Leonardo da Vinci.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is located in the heart of Milan and is considered one of the most important testimonies of Renaissance art in northern Italy. The history of the church is inextricably linked to the major families that ruled the city from the late fourteenth century onwards and to the work of great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was built from 1460 onwards thanks to Count Gaspare Vimercati, who donated a plot of land to the Dominican order where they could build their convent and a church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie. Initially Guiniforte Solari was called to oversee the works, who also worked on the Milan Cathedral. The convent was completed in 1469, whilst the church was finished in 1482. However, ten years later the church was largely modified at the behest of Ludovico il Moro, who wanted to create the Sforza family mausoleum here. From this period dates the realisation of the tribune, which is traditionally attributed to Bramante although there is no certain evidence.
The church features three low and wide naves separated by stone columns and covered by cross vaults supported by leafed capitals. The minor naves are flanked by rows of seven square side chapels, lit by a central round window and two pointed arch windows. The gabled façade is divided into five sections by six buttresses and features a fifteenth-century portal. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, together with Leonardo’s Cenacolo, was the second Italian site to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after the rock engravings in Valcamonica.
To preserve the work as much as possible, visits are only possible by prior reservation online on the official website or by purchasing a guided tour that includes the entrance ticket.
The ticket price for the site is €15.00 for a full ticket, and €2.00 for young people aged 18 to 25.
Given the large influx of visitors to Il Cenacolo, it is advisable to book tickets well in advance. To discover everything about Leonardo’s masterpiece, you can be accompanied by an expert guide during your visit. We recommend one of the tours below – they are the most popular and highly reviewed by visitors; each tour naturally also includes the entrance ticket.
The Leonardo da Vinci’s Cenacolo Museum is open every day, except Mondays, with the following times:
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is open for visits with the following times:
The best way to reach the Church and Il Cenacolo is undoubtedly by public transport. The nearest metro stations are Cadorna, which is about 600 metres from the Church, and Conciliazione.
Alternatively, you can take Tram no. 16 (Monte Velino – San Siro Stadium) to the S. Maria delle Grazie stop, or Buses no. 50 and 169 to the Via Boccaccio stop.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Leonardo's Last Supper are located in Milan on Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, not far from Sforza Castle.
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