The Last Supper

“The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci – Visiting Hours, Location, Admission Fees, Ticket Reservation Information

Whether Milan should be included on your list of cities to visit in Italy is a matter of debate, but if you’re one of those people who simply needs to see things like Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, in person, you’ll go out of your way to get to Milan. Unfortunately, getting Last Supper tickets can be really difficult, especially on short notice.

The enormous painting adorns one wall of a former dining hall in the monastery attached to the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan, and unfortunately da Vinci’s experimentation with a new kind of fresco application has led to the painting deteriorating dramatically over the years since it was completed. Because of this, visiting The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo in Italian) isn’t just as easy as showing up and popping in on a whim. Admission is strictly limited to a certain number of people per day, and visitors must go through several sealed chambers before entering the room where the painting is. In fact, the dining hall itself has been converted into a climate controlled environment, with the windows bricked up and the entire room sealed, simply to preserve what’s left of da Vinci’s work.

Groups of no more than 25 people are admitted into the dining hall every 15 minutes (when, of course, the previous group is ushered out). Tickets are sold in advance, and even if you’re not visiting during the busy tourist season you’ll need to book well ahead of time – the calendar can (and does) fill up quickly.

Last Supper Tickets: To maximize your time in Milan – which is an especially good idea if you’re only there for a few hours or just a day – book a guided Milan sightseeing tour that includes The Last Supper tickets. This guarantees you entry to see da Vinci’s famous painting, without the hassle of booking it separately yourself. Other sights included in the tour are La Scala opera house and the Duomo.

If you’d prefer, you can always call the booking line directly at 02.8942.1146 (country code 39), which is open from 09:00-18:00 most days, or you can book your ticket online from this booking website.

Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, Corso Magenta, Milano
On the subway, take the red line to the Conciliazione stop or the green line to the Cadorna stop.
On the tram, take line 24 to the Corso Magenta-Santa Maria delle Grazie stop.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 08:15-19:00 (last admission 18:45)
Museum closed Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25

Guide Services: There are audioguides which are available in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish – €2.50 for one or €4.50 for 2. They last 15 minutes, the maximum amount of time visitors are allowed to remain in the dining hall.

Admission: €6.50 (plus €1.50 advance booking fee)
EU citizens age 18-25 and academics get a 50% discount, EU citizens under 18 and over 65 get in free.

Note:
WhyGo Italy Facebook page reader Barbara says she has successfully booked last minute tickets to see The Last Supper on two visits to Milan by booking a half-day Milan tour that includes The Last Supper on the itinerary, so even if you’re not typically a “day tour” kind of person this might be a way to make sure you see one of the top sights in the city on short notice.