Santa Maria delle Grazie

The monastic complex appeared in Milan in the late 15th century. It all began with a gift from Count Wimerkati, who presented a plot of land to the Dominican order, which decided to establish their monastery there.

The construction of the church began in 1469 under the late Gothic style, supervised by Guiniforte Solari. In 1490, Ludovico Sforza planned to place the mausoleum of the Sforza ducal family there and entrusted the completion of the church to the greatest architect of the Renaissance era, Donato Bramante. Bramante designed and built the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. The architect reconstructed the choir, expanded the church with an arcaded gallery, and topped it with an impressive Renaissance dome, adorned with magnificent geometric brickwork of various shades.

After the completion of construction, the wealthiest families of Milan competed for the right to patronage of the chapels, to secure the right to bury their relatives there.

Those who won began to decorate their chapels, inviting the best masters of the time.

The building, styled in late Gothic, features a simple façade, adorned only with two large windows and a portal. The church's exterior is characterized by austerity and the harmony of proportions, which is a distinctive feature of Renaissance architecture. The façade is made of brick and decorated with white stone elements, creating a contrast and emphasizing architectural details. The main part of the façade is simple and unpretentious, with a focus on the central entrance, framed by an arch and topped with a triangular pediment.

The church has a traditional Italian basilica layout with one main nave and two side aisles. Inside, the church is decorated with luxurious frescoes and art objects, and its interior reflects the tranquility and elegance typical of the Renaissance era.

The interior space of the church is divided into two parts by a wide hollow partition: one part was for the parishioners, and the other was accessible only to monks. Architect Bramante even created an internal courtyard here.

The interior space of the church is designed in a style that combines elements of both Gothic and early Renaissance, reflecting a transitional period in Italian architecture. The main characteristics of the interior include:

Basilical layout, typical for many Christian churches. This layout includes one main nave surrounded by rows of side aisles, creating a sense of grandeur and space within the church.

Pillars and arches: Massive stone pillars support huge arched openings that separate the main nave from the side aisles. These architectural elements not only perform a supporting function but also add to the interior's monumental feel.

Light and windows: Large windows, placed high on the walls, fill the space with natural light, highlighting the refinement and detailing of the interior finishes and frescoes.

Frescoes and art: The walls and ceilings are adorned with luxurious frescoes, created using the fresco technique. These artworks depict religious scenes and figures, showcasing the skill of Renaissance artists. In particular, "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci attracts significant attention, although it is located in a separate room (the refectory) and is not part of the main church hall.

Altar and chapels: The focus of the interior is a magnificent altar, along with a series of chapels, each dedicated to a specific saint and decorated with unique artworks, including sculptures and paintings.

The dimensions of the image are approximately 880x460 cm, and it is located in the monastery's dining hall, on the back wall.

The fresco "The Last Supper" was painted in the late 15th century with oil paints on a wet wall. From 1494 to 1498, Leonardo da Vinci worked on his famous fresco. It took the artist three years to complete the work. Much of this time was spent searching for his characters in the streets and taverns, studying their poses and gestures.

The plot is taken from the Gospel of John. Unlike traditional icons depicting the scene after Jesus said "one of you will betray me", and the disciples have already asked their questions, the artist depicted the moment the words were spoken.

In 1943, during World War II, the church was bombed, but the fresco miraculously survived.

Today, Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" belongs to the National Museum. Entrance to the museum is paid. No more than 20 people are allowed to view the artwork at a time, and for no longer than 15 minutes.