Milan, in Northern Italy, has so much more to offer than the boutiques and football, its roads are steeped with history, and there are so many churches and cathedrals to see and absorb the culture.
Milan also offers relaxation from all the sightseeing strains in the way of its many spas. Or take a gondola trip around the labyrinth of Milan’s canals, something which this Italian city is less well known for. There is no shortage of things to enthrall and captivate in this admirable place.
Or, you can witness the painting of The Last Supper by Da Vinci.
Experiencing the painting of The Last Supper by Da Vinci
It has to be noted that one of the unmissable attractions of Milan, is Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper. This has always been one of the most famous paintings in the world since its creation in the 15th century. Interest has risen even more significantly since the publication of Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code in 2003.
Tickets for the Last Supper are very popular, and sell out quickly, often weeks in advance, so it is advisable to book your Last Supper tickets early if you intend to see this world famous controversy for yourself. Only a certain number of people can visit the Last Supper masterpiece in one day, so as to preserve it, so make sure you don’t miss out.
The Last Supper painting is kept in the Santa Maria delle Grazie (Holy Mary of Grace – Wikipedia) church. The church itself is a alluring tourist attraction and definitely worth a visit. It is one of the most grand churches of the Lombard Renaissance, and took 20 years to build.
It is worth looking at the various tours which operate around Milan, and combine the Last Supper tickets with some other fun excursions to make the most of your day. Other interesting things to do include La Scala Opera House, the world renowned opera house, and Corso Venezia, a fashionable street.
This tour by Get Your Guide, includes the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in central Milan and Milan’s renowned opera house, La Scala – plus, guaranteed tickets to see the painting of The Last Supper.
How to get tickets to view da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan?
The famous Last Supper fresco of Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan is notoriously difficult to access for viewing, as the number of visits is limited and people book months in advance.
If you’ve not booked in advance and arrive in Milan to find that there are no tickets left, what can you do?
It turns out that there are still possibilities to see the masterwork, albeit, at a slightly higher cost.
The only way visitors to Milan can see this masterwork without advance reservations is to book a guided tour.
One way is to go to a Milan Tourism Point and book the LookMi tour or the LookMi Light tour. These tours include a visit to the Last Supper every day except on Monday. With the Milano Card (buy it here), you get 10% off on the tour’s price.
Another possibility is the three-hour Autostradale bus tour or the ATM City tour.
The Autostradale Look-Mi tour departs from Piazza del Duomo in front of the Cathedral, near MacDonald’s, at 9.30 am, lasts three hours and includes Cathedral – Gallery – Scala – Sforza Castle – Last Supper – Arch of Peace – Arena – Monumental Cemetery. The price includes transportation from and to main hotels, entrance fees to monuments, and the guided tour. Online booking from the Autostradale website. You are eligible to a 10% discount with the MilanoCard .
The ATM tour operates from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. in Largo Cairoli (opposite the Castello ) and ends at about 1:00 in Piazza Duomo. The website gives a schedule. Info line 02 48036999. There are also tours, albeit with a slightly different program, but include the Last Supper, on Wednesdays (1pm) and Friday/Saturday (2:15 pm).
On the Internet you may find other tours at different costs, e.g. at 24Milano and Zani Viaggi , Viator, and TicketItaly.
Yet another possibility is to book at least a few days in advance with Last Supper Tickets. You can not book here more than three days in advance.
To pay the normal entrance fee of 6.50€, you’ll have to make a reservation the official way, at the Vivaticket website, months in advance! The availability of tickets changes rather a lot over time, so come back to the site regularly (you may just have luck).
On site there are guided English language tours at 9.30 and 3.30 (3.50 euro extra fee). To book this guided tour, you first need to get tickets for one of the two periods and then contact the call center (02 92800360) to book the guide.
Book your Last Supper tickets early
Remember to purchase your Last Supper tickets before your trip to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Discover more of Leonardo da Vinci’s Milan by exploring more of his work throughout the city, including the Sforza Castle, Biblioteca Ambrosiana and Museo Poldi Pezzoli.
