The Last Supper. You've seen pictures, you've seen reproductions, and you've even seen parodies. Leonardo's masterpiece is so ingrained in our culture that a guided tour is an absolute essential for any visitor to Milan.
Last Supper Tour
On this tour, we'll meet up in the center of Milan, and we'll first take a stroll around the stunning Dominican church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a 15th-century convent and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It's in the refectory of this church, in the 1490s, that the Italian genius, Leonardo da Vinci, painted one of the most recognisable works in the Western world. Commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, a great patron of the arts who also gave his name to the famous castle in the city.
Then, it'll be time to enter the stunning Santa Maria delle Grazie, a spectacular testament to the glory of Renaissance architecture. We'll walk through the ancient aisles, marveling at the timeless calm and the terracotta decorations. Then on to admire the masterwork.
Today, having survived nearly 500 years, bombardments during the Second World War, and several ill-conceived attempts at conservation in the eighteenth century, The Last Supper is in a fragile state. In fact, in 1556 - only sixty years after its completion - Leonardo's biographer Giorgio Vasari deemed the painting "ruined".
Today, restoration work has restored some of the painting's former glory, and copies exist, but access to the original is jealously guarded. An extremely limited number of visits are available, making the sight of Leonardo's original masterpiece an exclusive treat. With this reservation, you have guaranteed entry, without having to wait in line, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the most important works in the history of art.
And with an expert guide, you'll be accompanied every step of the way by anecdotes about the painting, its creation, preservation, significance, and history... a truly unforgettable tour, lasting between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes.