Da Vinci’s masterpiece
The Santa Maria delle Grazie church has become more popular than ever in recent years. Since the bestselling book ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by Dan Brown and the successful film adaptation of the book, this church has been attracting even larger crowds than before. They all come to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s mural ‘The Last Supper’. The mural, which depicts Jesus with his disciples on the evening before Judas betrays him, is inextricably linked to the history of this church.
The greatest painter of all times
Milan has always been the city of Leonardo da Vinci, although he was not born here. This world-famous Renaissance painter was, as his name suggests, from Vinci, a village near Florence. He was born as an unwanted illegitimate child – not the best start in life for a child in the 15th century. At the age of 14, Da Vinci moved to Florence and ultimately to Milan. He is considered one of the greatest painters of all times, although he was also a sculptor, architect, philosopher, physicist and engineer - a genuine ‘Renaissance Man’ before the term was coined.
Smudges on the wall
Da Vinci’s masterpiece depicts the moment right after Jesus has told his 12 disciples that one of them would betray him before sunrise. The artist realistically portrays the surprise on their faces and body language. This mural is not a fresco but a tempura painting, a technique that enabled artists to make subtle nuances. But since this technique was less durable, smudges quickly appeared in the painting making it difficult to restore.
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Arts & Culture
Once a symbol of power, Castello Sforzesco has now become an important cultural attraction. The enormous fort in the centre of Milan was originally built as an impenetrable stronghold. It was from here that the Visconti family and later on the Sforza family ruled the city. Since 1896, the castle has housed one of the largest art collections in Milan; take some time to admire the displays of sculptures, European porcelain and Baroque furniture.
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