Santa Maria delle Grazie
Milan, Italy

 

 

Why
Santa Maria delle Grazie
is special

It is home to one of the most famous and priceless paintings in the world: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. It depicts Jesus with his 12 apostles seconds after he announced that one of them would betray him before dawn.

Santa Maria delle Grazie
tips & insights

When the Last Supper
was painted

Leonardo began his masterpiece in 1495 and finished several years later. It was painted on a plastered wall in the church-convent.

Painting's size

It measures 8.8 meters (29 feet) wide by 4.6 meters (15 feet) high.

Damage through
the centuries

The three major causes for the extensive damage were:

Humidity
Within two decades after completion, the pigmented plaster began to flake. Humidity caused further deterioration in the ensuing centuries.
Remodeling
In 1652, someone cut a hole through the area where Jesus' feet were located to make a doorway. Notice the doorway arch in front of Jesus at the bottom of the painting.
War
The building suffered serious bomb damage in World War II. However,  the painting escaped miraculously mainly unscathed.

Subsequent
repairs

From the 18th through mid-20th centuries, well-intentioned restorers caused more harm than good. A major, more expertly done renovation was made in the late 20th century. It removed much of the earlier restoration mistakes - and heightened the original hues.

Ticket tips

Buy your tickets weeks, if not months in advance (available online). The demand is keen and only 25 people can view the Last Supper in each 15-minute period.

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