Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper

Church in Milan

Santa Maria Delle Grazie Milan — CC BY-SA 3.0 / Marcin Białek

The Gothic brick church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located on Corso Magenta, saw its construction commence around 1465. It features a substantial six-sided dome, designed in the exquisite Early Renaissance style by Bramante, one of Italy’s most influential Renaissance architects.

The church, along with its adjacent refectory housing Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper, suffered considerable damage during World War II. During the subsequent restoration work, old sgraffito paintings on the dome were uncovered. At the north end of the aisle, you’ll find the Baroque chapel of the Madonna delle Grazie, featuring an altarpiece dedicated to the Madonna.

However, the primary reason for most tourists to visit Santa Maria delle Grazie is to behold da Vinci’s most renowned masterpiece, painted on the refectory wall of the former Dominican monastery. Known as the Cenacolo Vinciano, this work was created in tempera between 1495 and 1497.

In contrast to earlier static depictions of Christ’s last supper with his disciples, da Vinci offers a dynamic and dramatic portrayal of the scene, a groundbreaking and pivotal development in the evolution of art. The painting, which had already begun to deteriorate before parts of the room were exposed to the weather due to damage, has undergone multiple restoration efforts, a process that may never be entirely finished.

The Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Milan!

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