The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located in the heart of Milan, is an imposing architectural work, an emblem of Catholic devotion, and is indissolubly associated with Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper, preserved here in the refectory.
The church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 because it is one of the greatest examples of Renaissance art, validated by the presence of Da Vinci's exceptional work.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was built between 1466 and 1490, by architect Solari, and only later in 1492 was the apse part by Bramante added. The refectory of the 15th-century church of Santa Maria delle Grazie houses one of the absolute masterpieces of art history: Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. Painted by Leonardo between 1496 and 1498 at the request of Ludovico il Moro, The Last Supper depicted by Leonardo da Vinci is a prospective extension of the real environment. It constitutes one of the most famous iconographies and one of the most deeply penetrated in the Western collective imagination. The scene is that of the moment when Jesus declares to the apostles that he knows one of them is ready to betray him.
The Church is open on a regular basis for visits, with the times indicated except during celebration times.
To visit the Cenacolo, it is necessary to book entry in advance, through the website cenacolovinciano.org