Da Vinci’s The Last Supper Tickets and Tours in Milan
If you are in Milan you have this unique opportunity to see live one of the most amazing works of Da Vinci: The Last Supper. I tell you how to visit it
Detail of "The Last Supper" by Da Vinci, former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. | ©Institutnationaldhistoiredelart
Extremely popular since Dan Brown made it the protagonist of 'The Da Vinci Code', 'The Last Supper' rests since its creation in 1497 in the same place: the wall of the refectory of the ancient Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, declared World Heritage Site.
Milan Da Vinci's Last Supper Guided Tour
Discover one of the best paintings in the world.
With this guided tour you will escape the queues that form in Santa Maria delle Grazie to see the work of Leonardo Da Vinci and you will learn all the details of this work thanks to the explanations of a professional guide.
On this guided tour of Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' in Milan, lasting approximately 45 minutes, you will have the opportunity to see Leonardo Da Vinci's painting 'The Last Supper' up close. The work is located in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can enter without queuing. During this tour you will discover, from the hand of an expert guide, various interesting facts about the painting.
Recommended... If you do not want to miss Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece
Milan Guided Tour with Last Supper Tickets
Get to know the capital of Lombardy and contemplate Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece.
Enjoy this 3-hour tour of Milan with a professional Art History expert guide, which, of course, also includes tickets to 'The Last Supper'.
In this guided tour of Milan with tickets for 'The Last Supper', lasting about three hours, a professional guide expert in art history will accompany you on a tour in which you will have the opportunity to see the exteriors of the main monuments of the Italian city, such as the Cathedral of Milan, the Sforza Castle, Piazza della Scala and Via Dante. In addition, tickets for 'The Last Supper' are included, where you will have preferential access and avoid the queues.
Recommended if... You want to discover the city of Milan and you have limited time.
Guided tour to see 'The Last Supper' by Da Vinci
If you want to enrich your experience, the ideal is to hire a guided tour of Milan with tickets for 'The Last Supper' to see the most famous painting of Da Vinci is the best way. Not only will you be able to admire Da Vinci's fresco without waiting in line, but you will also learn about its history and the reason why it is still in the same place after so many centuries.
Your guide will also tell you about the artistic techniques used by the Renaissance artist and his later restorers and all the hidden meanings and symbology that this Renaissance genius imprinted on one of his greatest works.
What is included
- Fast-track entrance without queues
- 1-hour guided tour in English in the morning, departing at 8.30 a.m.
- Meeting point in the same square where the convent is located, in Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Groups of 12 people maximum
Arrange your visit to see Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'
If you are going to see 'The Last Supper' on your own, remember that it is essential to book your ticket in advance and I recommend that you purchase it well in advance of your trip.
How to get to the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and see 'The Last Supper'
'The Last Supper' is located in the Dominican Convent located in Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, in the historic center of Milan. You can reach it at:
- Tramway: Line 18. Corso Magenta - Santa Maria delle Grazie.
- Subway: Conciliazione, Cadorna, line M1 or Cadorna, line M2.
Why see 'The Last Supper
It is not every day that one can say that one has been in front of one of the most famous works of art and one that has incited more scientific, artistic and fictional literature during history. The subject depicted, Jesus' last supper with his disciples before being crucified, is not new nor was it new when it was created.
Brief history of the work
It was Leonardo da Vinci, however, who approached this New Testament passage with the greatest mastery and originality. The genius of the Italian Renaissance captured one of the most dramatic moments of this historic dinner: the one after Jesus announced that among them was a traitor.
The reactions of astonishment and stupefaction of the apostles are masterfully portrayed in the painting, in addition to behaviors, figures and compositions that, some experts suppose, give rise to a second reading and interpretation beyond the pure pictorial technique.
These messages 'hidden' by the author, such as the feminine aspect of the figure to the right of Jesus, who is said not to be the apostle John, but Mary Magdalene, are part of the legend that surrounds 'The Last Supper', popularized, as I said, in the work of Dan Brown and his 2006 film of the same name.
Curiosities about 'The Last Supper
The refectory where 'The Last Supper' is located, in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, was the only thing left standing after a bombing during World War II.
The painting suffered, however, remaining in the open for several long years. And not only. After its completion in 1497 and given its support, dry plaster, the work began to flake, with continuous and unsuccessful attempts to restore it during the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries.
Later, during the occupation of the area by Napoleonic troops, the wall on which it sits was used for target practice. Fortunately, nowadays and after arduous conservation work, 'The Last Supper' has regained part of its original splendor so that we can all enjoy this wonderful piece of history.
Where is Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' located in Milan?
'The Last Supper' is located in the Church Santa Maria delle Grazie, which in 1980 was declared a World Heritage Site. Considered one of the most beautiful in the Lombard capital, it was built in the 15th century.
In addition, the basilica hides inside other iconic works of Italian art such as the frescoes of The Passion Story, by Gaudenzio Ferrari.
Opening hours of Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' in Milan
Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 7:00 pm. Last entrance at 6:45 pm.
It is closed on Mondays. In addition, there are other days of the year that the Church Santa Maria delle Grazie is also closed: January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Tips for visiting Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' in Milan
If you are traveling to Milan and intend to see Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper', here are a few tips:
- Most importantly, book your tickets as far in advance as possible.
- You can take pictures, but always without flash.
- You must be present 15 minutes before the time of your visit at the ticket office or your reservation will be cancelled.
Other interesting activities in Milan
Seeing Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' is one of the must-do activities to do in Milan, but so is getting to know its famous Duomo, the Milan Cathedral. I'll tell you all about it in this article by Milan Duomo Tickets and Tours. Doing some sightseeing in the city and its surroundings is essential to get to know all the corners of the city and its region. I tell you all about it in my article on Milan Tours.