Euro 8.00,
booking obligatory, discount for EU citizens under 18 or over 65,
and for EU citizens between 18 and 25. Open Tues-Sun 8.15-18.45, 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 02.8942.1146: the number
answers Mon-Fri 9.00 to 18.00, Sat 9.00-14.00. Operators speak English.
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 booking code number and the time of the visit. It may be necessary to pay by
credit card during this call, particularly in the case of larger groups. Otherwise you collect and pay
for tickets on the day of your visit, at least half an hour before scheduled time. If you have
to wait for this half hour, you could visit the church itself, Santa Maria delle Graze, 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 a week ahead.
The cenacolo vinciano
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
and paying on-line.
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.
If you don't manage to find a slot, you can try joining the queue in Piazza Santa Maria delle
Grazie, for places made available by people with bookings who don't turn up. 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: E 2.50 single, E 4.50 double.
How to reach by subway:
Piazza S. Maria delle Grazie
MM1 Conciliazione / MM2 Cadorna
http://www.cenacolovinciano.it
phone +39.02.8942.1146).
