Sophisticated, fast-paced, fashionable, classic and cool at once, Milan defines the very “Italian Style” and its cultural heritage at its best.
Get the chance to visit one of the most evocative districts of Milan, take a walk around the biggest Dome in Italy, discover the treasures of the Brera’s quarter and meet the extraordinary Da Vinci’s Wonder with skip-the-line tickets!
Milan Last Supper tour: reach out the Duomo, the biggest Gothic church of Italy
This guided tour will give you an insight on the city that dates back to 400 B.C. and was an epicenter of power ever since, always transforming, always innovating. The itinerary opens with an external visit to the symbol of the gothic artistic influence in Italy, the Milan Duomo, that with its 11.700 m2 of extension is considered the biggest cathedral in Italy.
Before arriving at the erection of such a grand edifice, the spot where the cathedral now stands, was house of the temple of Minerva, and then of the Santa Maria Maggiore Cathedral, that’s why it’s always been considered as the most important place of worship in Milan.
During this Milan walking tour, your charismatic and qualified guide will put a light on the 400 years of history that characterize this building, whose construction started in 1386 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the lord of the city and that is characterized by a succession of 78 different architects, engineers and sculptors who contributed to its complete construction, which can be considered finished as late as 1965.
Learn about the Milan Dome by our art and history expert guide
We know that also Dutch and French architects put their hands on the work, and to name a few we can mention Jean Mignot, Jacques Coene, Enrico di Gmünd, together with the first chief engineer who was Simone d’Orsenigo.
Now what is going to unfold in front of your eyes now looking at the exterior architecture, is the mighty structure that includes more than 3,000 statues and the 145 spires.
The facade includes large windows with Gian Galeazzo Visconti’s coat of arms in the aps part, and if you go down with your sight you’ll be able to look at one if the crucial elements of the cathedral, the “bronze door” carved by Luciano Minguzzi, and you will see how skillfully series of biblical symbols such as The Sacrifice of Noah, David with the head of Goliath, and the Tower of Babel.
Another aspect that makes the Duomo so special is the material used to create this masterpiece, which is a rosy white marble coming from the Cave of Candoglia that gives to the Duomo a unique romantic allure that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life!
Discover how the Sforza family made the city great during this tour in Milan
What better way to continue this Last Supper tour than by stepping into one of the city's most evocative neighborhoods, the Brera one, known as the artists district for its bohémienne nature. Here is where one of the most important historical landmarks lies: the Sforza Castle. His name is due to the dynasty that made Milan the greatest city of North-Italy during the XV century thanks to the stability policy started with Francesco Sforza who signed the peace that marked the beginning of a solidly peaceful and prolific period, which also allowed the development of art.
During this Milan tour you’ll learn how the city changed its appearance due to the significant commissions that came from the regent family. Francesco Sforza decided to renovate the stately residence that before his ascent to the throne was called the castle of Porta Giovia, but it's when Ludovico il Moro, a cultured, arts-loving man, obtained the power, that the castle reached its heyday.
In fact you’ll see from the outside how the Castle became the symbol of one of the richest and most sumptuous courts in Europe, hearing stories about how Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante magnificently enriched the Sforza residence with their decorations of the interior rooms, and more interesting stories.
Enjoy a special tasting break after the Teatro alla Scala visit
With this tour you’ll get the chance to discover another city’s jewel, the Teatro alla Scala, inaugurated in 1778, it has been the stage of many of the greatest operas and plays in history, and theater of such historic debuts as Verdi's in 1839, and Puccini's in 1889!
In Italy we are used to taking breaks when hunger starts to knock, and this Cenacolo Vinciano tour is no exception because there is going to be time also for special tasting of typical local products along the way.
Skip-the-line tickets to admire da Vinci Last Supper
This three hours Walking tour will make you appreciate Milan as a city rich in history, art, and culture, and you’ll have the chance to admire one of the most famous attractions in the city is the Cenacolo painting by the genial Leonardo da Vinci.
Visiting the Last Supper can be a bit tricky, that is why with this tour you’ll get skip-the-line tickets to avoid tedious queues and make the most of your visit. As other crucial Milan’s pieces of art, even this iconic masterpiece was commissioned by Ludovico il Moro, and it’s a must-see for any art lover visiting the city.
Where is the last supper painting located
Once you’ll be inside the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, where the painting is located, you’ll be able to see it up close and to take in all of its intricate details.
The Cenacolo Vinciano painting (the Last Supper) represents one of the greatest works of the entire Renaissance current, and it also sets off a revolution of the representation of Jesus and his apostles's Last Supper recounted in the Gospel of John, because it disrupts all the illustrative rules that had been previously applied by various artists throughout time.
The scene depicted in the Cenacolo
Unlike the latter, the scene depicted by Leonardo shows Christ having just announced the coming betrayal of one of the apostles, without revealing who, and what Leonardo's skillful hand wanted to highlight was the psychology of the characters. putting the focus on the manifestation of their emotions through their expressions and gestures, that change from character to character because each of them has its own reaction.
Another difference that immediately jumps out at you while you’ll be admiring the wonderful piece of art, is that Judas is not depicted isolated, on the sidelines, but actively takes part in the scene instead, by communicating with the rest of the group even as he is caught by great surprise.
Even the figure of John, who is usually depicted leaning against the body of Christ, on the contrary, is reproduced straining forward the apostle Peter who appears to be sharing something with him.
As you can’t take pictures of the painting, be prepared to sharpen your sight, etch everything your eyes can catch in your mind and create memories for a lifetime!
