Yet another masterpiece that completely mesmerized me ever since uni days when I studied art history was The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Its on the wall of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan. What's more? Its a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It would been a dream come true to see it with my own eyes. But unfortunately I wasn't that gifted. When I tried to book the tickets for it on the day I was visiting Milan, there weren't any left!!!
However when I visited Milan, I didn't want to just miss it all together. So I just went over there, just to see its exteriors! Atleast to have the feel that I was there... So the evening after going to Duomo Milano, I visited Santa Maria della Grazie.
It was originally built as a convent and church in the same location. Guiniforte Solari was the architect of the convent, which was built in 1469 under Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza. Later on the idea of church was reconsidered and the place was used to build a cloister and apse and the Duke & his wife were buried here.
The concept of Last Supper painting is very interesting concept in various categories. One, its technique which is Fresco Succo which is a dry fresco, unlike the traditional damp fresco, which Da Vinco experimented here and unfortunately it didn't work out well and it began to peel in his own lifetime itself!
Two, the perspective of the painting. If you're sitting on a dining table, you'd be sitting around it, not all in one side. However this painting depicts Jesus and his apostles, all in the same side, with a single point perspective. The reason, this was painted on the wall of the dining room of the convent. So, the painting looks like an extension of the room itself. 2 dining benches along the side walls and the painting on the 3rd, which gives an impression that its the 3rd bench on which Jesus & his apostles are seated!!!
During WWII, the church suffered severe bombing which destroyed some walls of the church. Fortunately the wall which has the painting was sandbagged and it survived the war!
Again, very very unfortunately I didn't get to go into the church..... Sad......... :(
To Get There:
Nearest Metro Station: Conciliazione and Cadorna
Nearest Tram Stop: S. Maria Delle Grazie
Nearest Tram Stop: S. Maria Delle Grazie
Entry Ticket: €10.00
There are way too many sites that sell tickets for entry and I had a tough time to figure out which is real and which is fake, so let me make your life easier - Official Last Supper Tickets by Viva Ticket of Ministry of Tourism.
Free admission on the first Sunday of every month. But reservation is necessary for this too.
There are 15-18 tours everyday from 8:30AM to 6:30PM.
There are way too many sites that sell tickets for entry and I had a tough time to figure out which is real and which is fake, so let me make your life easier - Official Last Supper Tickets by Viva Ticket of Ministry of Tourism.
Free admission on the first Sunday of every month. But reservation is necessary for this too.
There are 15-18 tours everyday from 8:30AM to 6:30PM.
The visit lasts 15 minutes; only 30 visitors per tour. So reserve as early as possible.
