Find it on the Map
Last Supper
Piazza S. Maria delle Grazie •
MM1 Conciliazione, MM1/2 Cadorna; tram 24.
www.cenacolovinciano.it
Background information on the Last Supper
€8.00, booking obligatory, discount for EU citizens under 18 or over 65, and for EU citizens between 18 and 25. Open Tues-Sun 8.00-19.00, closed on Mon. Opening times are variable.
Leonardo da Vinci's world-famous fresco, recently restored (restoration completed in 1999). Advance booking obligatory: places are limited. To book, phone 02 92800360: the number answers Mon-Fri 9.00 to 18.00, Sat 9.00-14.00. Operators speak English. (From abroad, phone +39 02 92800360). It is not possible to book direct at the Last Supper itself. The phone number is often engaged: you just have to keep trying. The operator will give you a code number and the time of the visit. It is necessary to pay by credit card.
At a cost of 15 € including the on line booking charge and credit cards percentage, the "A Friend in Milan" www.friendinmilan.co.uk service can book your visit for you, in combination with a personalized guided tour (50 € per hour) that includes a visit to the church Santa Maria delle Grazie, Bramante's cloister, and other sights in the vicinity.
Visit the church itself, Santa Maria delle Grazie, with its lovely apse and dome by Bramante, and the little courtyard by the same architect.
As soon as you know when you are going to be in Milan, book a visit: at certain times of year it is hard to find slots even 3 months ahead.
The cenacolovinciano.it website seems to have a calendar showing availability but I don't think that the system is working properly. There doesn't seem to be the chance of booking.
All in all it is a tourist-unfriendly system. Large numbers of tickets are allocated to tour organisers, and often the only hope is that there will be some cancellations. The best day to call for cancellations is Monday.
There is a visit every 15 minutes for 25 people. At the end of the itinerary there is a shop selling cards, posters and books on the Last Supper (restored state) and Leonardo da Vinci. It is well worth reading something about this painting before your visit, as there is the risk that such a famous sight becomes something of an anticlimax: if not, the audio guide provides a lot of good information. The audio cassette guide (in English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese) are available at the ticket desk: € 2.50 single, € 4.50 double.