Santa Maria delle Grazie Tickets 2026

SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE

See the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, home to the “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. The Sforza family were rulers of Milan. The commander of their troops gave the convent of Sant’ Apollonia in Pavia land in Milan in 1460. There was a chapel there that had the fresco of “Our Lady of Graces, the Virgin Mary” inside. They wanted to build a church and a convent and name it Santa Maria delle Grazie. They were finished in the 15th century. You can see the typical Renaissance style that was popular in Lombardy at the time in the church’s architectural elements. The builders used local materials, such as granite, to create the capitals adorned with Corinthian leaves. Donato Bramante, who brought the High Renaissance style to architecture, worked on the church. He was also the chief architect in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. There are seven chapels on each side, which Milan’s important families used for prayer and as a site of burial. Here, you can see “Crucifixion” by Gaudenzio Ferrari from the 16th century. There was another work of art here, called “The Crowning with Thorns” by Tiziano Vecellio, which was requisitioned by Napoleon and can now be found in the Louvre. The convent incorporated three cloisters, one of which, the Cloister of the Dead, was destroyed in World War II and later reconstructed.

THE ”LAST SUPPER”

The refectory was also damaged in World War II in a bombing. It used to be adorned with frescoes, and two survived. They are the “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci and the “Crucifixion” by Donato Montorfano. There is also a frescoed frieze on one of the walls. The “Last Supper” depicts Jesus instituting the Eucharist and is known for the use of linear perspective. To truly understand and discover the meaning and details of this masterpiece, consider booking a private tour of the Last Supper in Milan with an expert guide — the best way to experience it.