The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, situated in the heart of Milan, is an outstanding work of architecture, and an emblem within the Catholic tradition, attributed to the Architect Donato Bramante. But the Convent pf Santa Maria delle Grazie is perhaps even more famous for its indissoluble connection to Leonardo Da Vinci's wall painting of “The Last Supper,” preserved inside its refectory (dining hall). 

Painted by Leonardo da Vinci on the wall of the refectory of the Convent it  represents the Last Supper of Jesus and the Disciples, Leonardo's interpretation of the popular subject had created the world's most renowned and admired "sacred conversation", in fact every single one of the thirteen characters is connected with then one next to him creating a sort of human embroidery: while Jesus sits in the centre in a pyramidal like shape with the arms open down on the table facing a large empty plate, all the disciples are grouped in four sets of there and appear talking and gesticulating as a reaction to Jesus Christ Last words and also the warning that he has been betrayed by one of them. 

The scene is set in a large three windowed hall, with a lard dining table having everybody sitting on one side, with Jesus Christ in the very centre, as He is central in mankind's history so He is in the Scene. There is an animated scene with details of the supper and some other peculiar elements, like a very young and feminine Saint John and Saint Peters holding a Knife, which is a precognition of him cutting off a ear from one of the Roman Soldiers that will arrest Jesus after Judas Betrayal. Leonardo worked here probably from 1495 and finished the Painting by 1498, it became since the renaissance one of the most iconic frescoes of the history of art, of which several copies made in XVI and XVII centuries are preserved in various museums in Europe, including the Tapestry Copy made in 1521 kept in the Vatican Museums. The Fresco inspired several artists including Dan Brown's controversial bestseller "The Da Vinci Code" ad the Movie as well.  

After years of damages and attempts of restoration in the XVIII century that have caused further damage, including an attempt to detach it from the wall as if was a Fresco, which is not, but is  a dry wall painting, the artwork has undergone a 21 years long restoration and has been reopened to the public in 1999. 

Some art critics and historians have criticised the change is some shapes and colours, anyway the painting is now safely preserved and fro this reason only 15 visitors are admitted at time in a sealed air controlled environment.  Your Tour Guide will meet you at the Entrance 30 minutes before sheduled entrance and will give you an extesive introduction to the arwork and to Leonardo's art and life, before entering the refectory. The tour will eb completed by the visit of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The Church is one of Renaissance art's most important testimonies and a shining symbol of creative human genius -  thus it became a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.