Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

Introduction: The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a Dominican nunnery, is famous for preserving Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, The Last Supper.

The Last Supper was painted on the wall of the monastery's refectory between 1494 and 1498. Drawing on his deep expertise as a scientist, Da Vinci courageously broke with traditional painting methods to achieve a distinctive visual effect.

However, because it is an oil painting rather than a traditional fresco, the artwork has been highly susceptible to environmental damage. Over the centuries, it has undergone numerous restorations, often resulting in significant alterations to its appearance. In 1999, artists and scientists carried out an extensive restoration, restoring the original colors and removing overpainting from previous restorations, thus returning the painting to its closest possible original state. Transportation: Metro MM1 line to Conciliazione station, MM2 line to Cadorna station. Tickets/Opening Hours: Opening hours: 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:45 PM). Closed on Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. Reservations are mandatory, with a maximum of 25 visitors per session and a 15-minute viewing time limit. Ticket: €6.5 + €1.5 reservation fee. Audio guide: €2.5 for single, €4.5 for double, available in Italian, English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and more. Special note: Reservations should be made months in advance. A small number of same-day tickets may become available at 8:15 AM from the ticket office if prior reservations are canceled, but these are extremely limited. Reservation phone: 02-89421146 (daily 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, closed on public holidays).

Milan, Italy