Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

Santa Maria delle Grazie is a 15th-century church and Dominican convent in central Milan that houses Leonardo da Vinci’s mural The Last Supper in its refectory. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its cultural and artistic significance.

The primary visitor highlight is the refectory where Leonardo executed The Last Supper between 1495 and 1498; access to this space is tightly controlled with short, timed visits to minimise damage to the painting. The church, cloisters and convent buildings surround the refectory and represent important examples of Renaissance architecture in Milan.

The complex was constructed in the late 15th century under ducal patronage and later acquired international recognition because of Leonardo’s work and the site’s architectural ensemble. The refectory’s conservation has involved multiple restoration campaigns over the 20th century to stabilise and preserve the mural.

Santa Maria delle Grazie sits in Milan’s historic centre, close to the Castello Sforzesco and other central landmarks, and is easily reached from the city’s public transport network.

• Timed-entry for The Last Supper: Visits to the refectory are by timed tickets with limited group sizes and short viewing durations to protect the painting, so reservations are usually necessary well in advance.
• Leonardo's mural dates: Leonardo painted The Last Supper between 1495 and 1498; the painting is a late 15th-century tempera on the refectory wall and has undergone extensive conservation.

What to See #

• Refectory (The Last Supper): The refectory (Cenacolo) contains Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper, painted between 1495 and 1498 and preserved behind controlled-entry conditions.
• Church, cloisters and convent: The church nave, cloisters and convent buildings date to the 15th century and form the larger religious complex that surrounds the refectory.