Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is one of the artist's most famous works and a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. Depicting the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, the artwork is a large mural that was painted on the wall of the refectory at the basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
After receiving the commission from Ludovico il Moro, Leonardo worked on the piece for four years, from 1494 to 1498, using an experimental technique that allowed him to add details and modifications as he went along. Because of the technique used - typical of panel painting - and the humidity of the canteen, the Last Supper was subject to progressive deterioration. Several restorations were attempted to recover the masterpiece, up until the intervention which began in 1977 and finished in 1999. Thanks to that restoration, today we can still admire this extraordinary work, recognized in 1980 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The painting is so popular that it has become a true icon, both in the art world and in pop culture, as proven by the countless copies that have been made over the years. Among these, the most curious is the one found in the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a reproduction in the form of a sculpture carved into the rock.
Things to know before visiting the Last Supper
Reservations for the Last Supper are compulsory
Visitors must arrive 30 minutes before their booked timeslot to collect their tickets
No bulky bags or luggage are allowed inside – these can be left in the lockers at the ticket office
The museum is accessible to people with limited mobility
Opening hours of the Last Supper Museum
From Tuesday to Sunday, from 08.15 to 19.00
Closed on Mondays, January 1st and December 25th
Last admission at 18.45
How to get to the Last Supper
The Last Supper is located in the refectory at the Santa Maria delle Grazie basilica, in central Milan
By metro: Green line (M2), Cadorna stop, approx. 9-minute walk. Red line (M1), Cadorna or Conciliazione stops, respectively 9 and 6 minutes on foot
By tram/bus: Tram 16, S. Maria delle Grazie stop, 1 minute walk. Bus 50 and 169, stop in Via Boccaccio, approx. 5 minutes on foot
On foot: from the Duomo of Milan, it is possible to reach the museum with a pleasant walk through the historic center of approx. 20 minutes
