Santa Maria delle Grazie is a 15th-century Dominican church and convent in Milan, best known as the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The church and convent are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but many visitors hurry straight to the painting. Allow time for the church itself, particularly its spacious Renaissance tribune, traditionally attributed to Donato Bramante.
Leonardo painted The Last Supper on the wall of the convent refectory between 1495 and 1498. Rather than using conventional fresco technique, he experimented with paint on dry plaster, leaving the work vulnerable to deterioration. A painstaking restoration completed in 1999 removed centuries of overpainting, revealing a fragile but compelling image of the apostles reacting to Christ’s announcement of betrayal. On the opposite wall, Donato Montorfano’s Crucifixion offers a striking contrast.
Book Last Supper tickets well in advance through the official Cenacolo Vinciano website; availability is limited and visits to the refectory last 15 minutes. Entry to the church is separate, so check its visiting hours and dress respectfully. Afterwards, explore the Magenta neighbourhood or walk south to the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio.