When visiting the city of Milan and exploring its many museums, you absolutely must see the world-famous work“The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. This masterpiece was painted directly on a wall of the convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie.
As you’d expect, it’s one of the most visited sites in Milan. To avoid the crowds, we advise you to book your one-way tickets, or a guided tour (with queue-cutting tickets) online, to save precious time on the day of your visit.
We give you below all the practical information to facilitate your visit (price, time of visit, opening day and schedule) ….
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Where to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan?
The Last Supper was painted directly on a wall of the convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie.
You can get there by public transport(the nearest stop has the same name as the convent, “Santa Maria delle Grazie”), by bike(with stations nearby) or on foot from the Duomo (20-minute walk).
How to visit the Last Supper
To visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, you need to book your one-way ticket or guided tour in advance, as the number of visitors per day is limited. We give you all the practical information you need below.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday, 8.15 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday from 2 to 7 pm
- Closed on Monday
Remember to check the information on your ticket before you arrive.
Authorized visiting time
The allowed visiting time is 15 minutes, not more.
We therefore advise you to arrive at least 30 minutes early to collect your tickets from the ticket office.
It’s a little short, but it’s a must-see painting, at least once in your life, and this gauge allows us to limit the number of visitors in any one time slot, so that the work can be fully appreciated and its deterioration avoided.
One-way ticket
You can book your ticket directly on the official website; the calendar is available at the bottom of the page. The site is in Italian only, and not really optimized for one of Italy’s most visited sites. Reservations must be made at least 1 month in advance (except in winter).
Don’t panic, if you can’t find any availability during your stay, you can book a guided tour with a guide. Tickets are donated for guides and their groups (link and explanations below).
Price: 15€ full price for 15 minutes access (group of maximum 18 people) – Reduced price 13€ for 18-25 years old – free for under 18 years old
Guided tour of the Last Supper
➡️Our recommendation reserve your guided tour of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, it’s a visit ideal to know the details, the secrets and anecdotes of the related to this mythical painting and its painter Leonardo da Vinci, for an interesting price knowing that the entrance tickets, cut-file, are included, you will not have to worry about it!
Price: 59€ full price (group of maximum 18 people) – duration 1 hour – date and time to be selected at the time of your reservation – entrance ticket, with a ticket-cutter, included
Visit to Milan including the Last Supper
Another great option is to combine a guided tour of the Last Supper and Milan, with your admission ticket, which is included.
Your tour will begin with a visit to the Last Supper, with information about its design and painter, and then your guide will take you on a tour of Milan, giving you plenty of explanations about its history and architecture.
In short, a guided tour of a city is always a good idea, and we do it almost systematically, loving the exchanges and anecdotes from the local guides!
Price: 74€ full price (group of maximum 18 people) – duration 3h – date and time to be selected at the time of your reservation – entrance ticket, with a ticket-cutter, included
Combined visit to the Last Supper and the Duomo: the two must-sees
Milan’s cathedral, the Duomo, is the other must-see site during your visit to Milan, why not combine the two!
Book your combined guided tour of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and the interior of the cathedral, the Duomo. For 3 hours, your guide will tell you all about the history and architecture of Milan and its two unmissable sites.
Entrance tickets to both sites are included.
Price : €109 full price – €99 reduced price under 14 – duration 3h – date and time to be selected at time of booking – entrance ticket for both sites, with queue cutter, included.
Course of your visit
As mentioned above, the authorized visiting time in the refectory, where the work is present, is 15 minutes, and not one more!
The before and after areas feature well-crafted explanations of thehistory of the work and its restoration. You can also visit the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie for its beautiful cloister.
Another important piece of information for your visit: photos are possible, without flash, and we recommend that you opt for an outfit that covers shoulders and knees.
The history of this work
The origin of the painting and its meaning
The subject is classic: the scene depicts Jesus’ last meal, when he announces that someone is going to betray him.
Leonardo da Vinci wanted to depict this moment of suspense, when the disciples wonder about the origin of the famous milking.
This was the moment for him to put into practice his colossal work on the representation of human emotions in painting, each person representing a different facial expression (protest, questioning, protest, anger… ).
Jesus, placed exactly in the center of the composition and on the perceptive vanishing line, is depicted as weighed down and resigned, his face clearly visible against the light of the window.
Another point about this work, its proportions are colossal 4.5 meters high and almost 9 meters long.
Techniques of realization
The fresco is painted directly onto the wall, so it has undergone numerous restorations to keep it in good condition.
Throughout his life, Leonardo da Vinci worked a great deal on movement and emotions, and his research is reflected in this work. It’s a breathtaking achievement, Christ and his disciples appear to be alive.
Why is it important to see The Last Supper?
In our opinion, this work is a must-see at least once in your life. During your visit, you’ll be impressed by its size, by the different facial expressions of Jesus and his apostles, and by all the details the painter has hidden in his painting.
Don’t hesitate to stay in Milan: opt for the city center near the Duomo! This allows you to visit a large part of the city on foot. The city is full of sublime hotels.
Our tips for sleeping in Milan
1. Notre coup de coeur : INTOMILAN Aparthotel Galleria Duomo, situé à quelques minutes à pied du Duomo. La situation géographique de l’hôtel est parfaite pour visite Milan. Notre chambre était spacieuse, propre et avec une décoration soignée. Nous y avions passé un excellent séjour.
2. Appartement : Brera apartments Alla Scala nous avions longuement hésité avec cet hébergement également très bien placé. C’est un appartement donc cela permet de se faire à manger plus facilement qu’à l’hôtel.
We wish you an excellent trip! Don’t hesitate to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
