The experience begins outside the complex of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where your expert guide will set the stage. During this 30 to 40-minute introductory session, you will travel back to the 15th-century. You’ll learn why this church became the focal point of Milanese power and how Leonardo was commissioned to decorate its dining hall. This external briefing is essential to understand the political and artistic climate that allowed such a revolutionary work to be born.

The journey continues inside the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. As you walk through its hallowed aisles, you will witness a fascinating architectural dialogue. You will explore the intricate terracotta decorations and the grand circular dome, discovering how the church was transformed into a majestic mausoleum for the Sforza dynasty, serving as the perfect spiritual and aesthetic prelude to the mural itself.

Finally, you will enter the Refectory. Here, in the quiet, dim light, you will have approximately 15 minutes to stand in the presence of the masterpiece. Having already learned about Leonardo’s experimental (and delicate) technique and the “motions of the mind” he sought to capture, you can fully appreciate the emotional gravity of the scene.