Milano in TRAM

Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1463 decided to build a Dominican convent and a church near a small chapel dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie. The architect Guiniforte Solari commissioned the project.
Santa Maria delle Grazie was built in Lombard Gothic style, has three naves and seven bays, supported by granite columns and walls of the 13 chapels.

In the sides of the naves there are 13 chapels more one chapel dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie.
• Chapel “Della Torre”
• Chapel “San Martino de Porres”
• Chapel “Marliani” o “degli Angeli”
• Chapel “Santa Corona” o “Deposizione della Croce”
• Chapel “Sauli”
• Chapel “Atellani”
• Chapel “San Giovanni Battista”
• Chapel “San Giuseppe”
• Chapel “San Pietro Martire”
• Chapel “Conti già Simonetta”
• Chapel “San Domenico”
• Chapel “San Pio V”
• Chapel “Bolla” o “Santa Caterina”

Along the central nave you get to the Tribune Renaissance where there were originally the presbytery and the apse, destroyed by Ludovico il Moro. Here is the altar, behind the altar there is the chorus.
The ceiling of the nave is decorated with ornaments and figures of men variously attributed to Butinone, with Zenale to Montorfano and Bergognone, masters of the Lombard school.
Through the chapel “Santa Maria delle Grazie” you can reach the monastery built by Bramante it has a central fountain and a garden. The church has two cloisters, but the finest is the dining hall, it is also worth visiting the Sacristy.
The facade is in the shape of a pentagon, with windows on each side of the gate. Over the gate there is an arch supported by two columns. Over there is a fresco, there is a rose window above the arch and above it a smaller one.
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is known around the world because the building on the right, the dining hall, contains the famous "Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is visited by appointment.

Other Informations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_delle_Grazie_(Milan)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo)