10.08.2006

the last supper



My biggest thrill during a recent trip to Italy was seeing Leonardo da Vinci's classic fresco The Last Supper. This is one of the great works of Renaissance art, and it is a high moment for an art lover to see in person the original of an image previously viewed only in art history text books. Only 10 visitors at a time are allowed into the large monastic refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie where the fresco is painted, covering the entire width of the room. You can contemplate the fresco in a relaxed and leisurely fashion for a quarter hour.

I contrast this experience with an earlier visit to the Louvre in Paris. I remember wading through massive crowds hoards of tourists on their way to see the Mona Lisa. When you finally get there, the sight is disappointing: a tiny painting, protected behind plexiglass, obscured by the heads of hundreds of viewers. When you do go to the Louvre, a much more spectacular exhibit is Napoleon's bedroom!



The Last Supper is probably the most difficult ticket to get in Milan. Reservations are best made months ahead of time. Get a good tour guide who can reserve your tickets and take you on a three-hour walking tour of this fascinating city. An experienced travel consultant can put this all together for you!

1 comment:

Rebecca said...

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