Leonardo da Vinci

Written by Viator, September 2011

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Must-Do Experience

Leonardo da Vinci embodied the Renaissance man. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, writer, engineer, inventor… the list goes on. Some of his images remain our most iconic even today: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Vitruvian Man. Although born just outside Florence in the town of Vinci and trained in a studio in Florence, he spent his early working life in Milan, under the patronage of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, from 1482-1499.

It was during this time that he painted The Last Supper in the dining hall of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, at that time intended to be the Sforza family mausoleum. This huge painting is reason enough to visit Milan. Leonardo completed only fifteen paintings because his active mind tended to jump from project to project. He also had a tendency for experimentation that meant many of his paintings did not last well.

In The Last Supper he did not use traditional wall fresco techniques and experimented with mixing his paints, hence the deterioration we see in the painting today had begun only a few years after Leonardo finished it. To protect the painting there are now strict controls on the number of people allowed in the hall at one time and it’s necessary to pass through glass doors and dehumidifying chambers on the way in: the engineering mind of Leonardo would have loved it. There are also two permanent exhibitions of Leonardo’s more technical work in Milan at the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, "Treatise on Painting" and "Leonardo: Citizen of Milan."

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All Leonardo da Vinci Reviews

Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Milan Half-Day Sightseeing Tour with da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

The tour was conducted by Zani Viaggi, a big tour operator in Milan. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the city and the sights visited on the tour, which included the cathedral (Duomo), a walking tour of parts of the city, and a visit to Da Vinci's "Last Supper". The enthusiasm, efficiency and helpfulness of the guide, who pointed out some very interesting aspects of the "Last Supper in particular, were appreciated.

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Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Leonardo da Vinci Half-Day Walking Tour including 'The Last Supper'

very knowledgeable and very professional leader providing a very interesting tour. I never realised that the last supper was so large. However quite a lot of walking and an umbrella needed in the rain.

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Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Milan Half-Day Sightseeing Tour with da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

Excellent tour, guide was also excellent

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