Out of all of Milan`s numerous treasures, Leonardo Da Vinci`s magnum opus stands out as the most renowned. The artistry is undoubtedly impressive, and as an artifact of history it serves as yet another reminder of Da Vinci`s overwhelming genius, yet what is truly amazing is its continued existence after over 500 years. The combination of oil and egg tempera the artist employed to create it was not intended to last for such an extended period, and it has weathered ill-advised renovations, careless structural modifications (including a doorway that truncated part of the painting), as well as bombing raids that obliterated many of the surrounding buildings. But remain it does, and any visitor to Milan who will be in town for a day or longer should take the chance to view something so valuable. Regrettably, you will not be alone. The Last Supper ranks among the world`s most renowned works of art, and it is housed within the small monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, so advance planning is essential.
Seeing The Last Supper: Essential Info
- Advance reservations are required.
- Viewings are limited to 30 people at a time, in 15 minute intervals.
- Tickets are available online from Tuesday through Sunday approximately between 8am and 7pm, with extended hours on Sundays during the high season (late spring and summer).
- Reserve tickets as soon as possible. For high season, book at least 8-10 weeks in advance of your arrival.
- Guided trips can be ordered ahead and offer enhanced details about the creation and artistry of the painting.
- The museum is closed on Mondays as well as Christmas, New Year’s Day, and the first of May (Labor Day).
- Non-flash photography, day packs, strollers and water bottles are permitted. Large bags, food, and open beverages are not allowed.
- Children under 18 get free admission.
Table of Contents
Reservations and Buying Tickets
Visiting Michelangelo`s renowned work the Last Supper requires booking a time slot well in advance due to limited space and high visitor volume. Only 30 people are permitted entry every 15 minutes to preserve the painting`s condition. Tickets allowing access on weekdays and weekends from roughly 8am until 7pm can be purchased online for specified time windows in the upcoming weeks. Those visiting during the busiest late spring and summer months will want to secure tickets 8 to 10 weeks ahead of arrival. Elsewhere, reserving 4 to 6 weeks in advance is generally sufficient. The fundamental guideline is: once you know the dates of being in Milan, buy your ticket for the Last Supper without delay.
Numerous websites, such as the formal VivaTicket site, offer pre-purchased tickets for entrance in the 15-minute time windows. When purchasing tickets (up to 5 can be bought at once), you might be asked to reserve for “Cenacolo Vinciano” which translates as “Da Vinci`s Last Supper” in Italian. You may also come across some puzzling information; for example, there is regularly a statement on the VivaTicket site for a “pre-sale opening,” which simply signifies how far ahead tickets are available for a specific date. The “pre-sale” for acquiring tickets in May and June currently begins on the 13th of February. Generally though, you can disregard that section and simply reference the calendar, which indicates the days still open for bookings. You can also gain entrance to the Last Supper via the Milano City Pass (although you will still need to book well in advance), which may be worthwhile the extra cost if you are planning an extensive museum tour in Milan. If you are watching your pennies, note that entrance to the museum is complimentary the first Sunday of every month; however, a reservation is still required (and because it’s free, even harder to come by). Children under 18 gain entry at no cost for any showing, albeit again, reservations are compulsory.
Should your chosen date no longer appear on the calendar, do not be discouraged – guided tours may still provide access. Though costing extra, tours frequently offer a superior experience through short viewing windows and lack of signage otherwise challenging full appreciation of history and artistry. Numerous tours also combine stops at additional notable Milan attractions, such as the Duomo, Galleria, and Sforza Castle.
Best Guided Tours of Da Vinci’s Last Supper
- Fat Tire Bike Tours – City bike excursions of varying length, from Gaudi-themed routes ending at the Sagrada Familia to e-bike tours of Montjuïc.
- Walking Visit with Last Supper Entry – 3 hours (Includes Duomo)
- Best of Milan Guided Tour – 2.5 hours (Includes Duomo & Sforza Castle)
- Late Night Opening – 1 hour (only 2 Wednesdays per month)
The Experience
Groups touring the attraction are asked to arrive 20 minutes in advance; strict scheduling means there is rarely a lengthy wait after the designated viewing time. Guests are then guided through a series of checkpoints and holding areas in sequence. First outdoors, where onlookers can examine the external architecture of Santa Maria delle Grazie itself – rather an ordinary structural design without the grandeur sometimes expected of a cathedral. Next, parties enter a waiting space to verify tickets, with signs detailing the building`s history but curiously little information on the painting itself (a guided visit may help address this). After that, a climate-regulated staging zone provides a brief respite before finally gaining entry to the refectory housing the renowned work.
If the outward appearance of the building is humble, the arched, rectangular room housing the painting is even less noteworthy. The Last Supper occupies one of the shorter walls; the other taken up by the pleasant, but clearly inferior, Crucifixion by Giovanni Donato da Montorfino. The painting sits relatively high on the wall, and guests often spend most of their 15 minutes trying to view it from different angles. The museum guides inside will alert visitors at 5-minute intervals, and will commence ushering the group out with only a few minutes remaining. Linger as long as you can, but respect the time of the following group.
Planning Your Trip
Best Time to Go
The museum has closures on Mondays as well national holidays like Christmas, New Year`s Day, and May 1st (Labor Day). Milan sees a sizable influx of visitors during the summer months, and with numerous attractions closed in August (when most local residents and business owners vacate the city), acquiring tickets may be more difficult. Generally, the simplest times to secure tickets tend to be during autumn or winter, but do check dates for the city`s two fashion weeks in the winter (one in January another in February) as Last Supper tickets – and accommodation – are harder to find during those periods.
Restrictions
Until a few previous years, graphics within the area accommodate the Final Meal were firmly denounced, however since 2010, while Silvio Berlusconi had one with himself and Dimitri Medvedev standing before the painting, restrictions have relieved.
- Non-Flash photography is permitted. Flash photography is prohibited.
- oversized bags are not permitted, although day packs are acceptable, as are strollers and water bottles.
- Food and open beverages are not allowed.
- Guests are regularly asked to leave wet coats and umbrellas in the waiting area to retrieve later.
- As the museum is part of an active convent, an informal dress code is also applied. The team probably will not truly prevent you from entering, but you risk facing disapproving looks if you show up in shorts and a tank top.
How to Get There
Santa Marie delle Grazie is walkable from the Duomo/Centro Storico area, although it is not a direct route and might be too far for young children. Public transport options include the number 16 tram which will drop visitors right at the entrance (view an online tram map for more details). Riders can also take the M1 Metro from the Duomo stop to Cadorna, getting within a few blocks of the museum; the M2 line also stops at Cadorna if that’s more suitable (consult an online metro map or download the ATM Milano app for additional information).
Best Hotels near the Last Supper
