The Last Supper

One of the reasons I wanted to go to Milan was to see The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. I knew that it was a complicated affair. The fresco is in the rectory of Santa Maria Dell Grazie. It's a room off the church. It has been turned into a very controlled experience.  

It was sold out. I was glad that I booked an appointment ahead of time. Milan seemed very crowded. 

Waiting Room

They check you in and put you in a narrow waiting room. People are admitted and expelled every 15 minutes. There was a crying circle started when I was there. A child fell out of his stroller...he started crying, then the little girl that was fooling around with the stroller and made it tip slowly started to breakdown and then full out wail. This started the littlest child to join in, I am guessing, because she really did not want to see The Last Supper. So there was that...

Then they corral you into the next glass boxed waiting area.

From there, you could see the room where the Last Supper is. Interesting to me, the big group of Japanese with the very loud guide were all walking backwards....They were trying to get every bit of those 15 minutes of viewing. 

When the room is emptied....my group was let in. It's pretty impressive. I think they have sterlized the experience, but it is a beautiful fresco. The kids were not happy.

I wandered out early. I can't look at one painting for 15 minutes. There is a lot to see, but I prefer to look closely and then go back...which in this case I couldn't do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper

One thing I didn't know was the painting represents the moment after Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will be tray him. It's shows their reaction.

180" x 350"

Then you can buy all kinds of Last Supper swag. 

SMDG through the window shade

The Japanese walking backwards