must-visit in MilanChurch & Religious Site

Santa Maria delle Grazie

📍 Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, Milan, Italy

1 photos

4.6/ 5.0

★★★★★

Introduction

Santa Maria delle Grazie is the church of Milan's Dominican convent, world-famous for Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painted on the refectory wall next door. Founded in 1463, the church has a solemn brick Gothic facade, while Bramante's apse with its octagonal drum and dome is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. In the 1943 Allied bombing the refectory was almost flattened, yet the wall bearing the fresco miraculously survived. Viewing the Last Supper today requires booking weeks or months ahead, in 15-minute slots of about 30 visitors — among the hardest tickets in Milan, and all the more precious for it.

✨ Highlights

The Last Supper

Leonardo's 1495-98 mural — fifteen minutes face to face with genius.

Bramante's Apse

The Renaissance octagonal dome in subtle dialogue with the Gothic nave.

The Nave

A solemn brick Gothic interior with chapels and fine sculptures.

A Surviving Miracle

How the mural's wall survived the 1943 bombing is a story of its own.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：15 minutes for the mural; about 1 hour with the church.

→Booking：Last Supper tickets must be reserved weeks ahead online — no walk-up sales.

→Rules：No photos in the refectory; timed climate-control entry.

→Getting There：5-10 minutes on foot from Cadorna or Conciliazione metro stops.

→Etiquette：Dress modestly and keep quiet inside the church.

💡 Tips

• Peak slots sell out instantly when released — set a reminder.

• Arrive 30 minutes early to collect tickets; latecomers are refused.

• Brush up on Leonardo in Milan before entering the refectory.

• Batches are tiny, so you can find a good viewing spot.

• Visit the convent cloisters while you are here.

FAQ

Any practical tips for visiting Santa Maria delle Grazie?

Peak slots sell out instantly when released — set a reminder. Arrive 30 minutes early to collect tickets; latecomers are refused.

Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.