Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper is in Milan.
Several friends had recommended this as a must see and that the best way to see it was to book it well in advance on-line as it has a very restricted viewing timetable. A maximum of thirty people at any one time, each group being allotted a specified 15 minute time frame. So I got on-line and found that the easiest way to guarantee our viewing was in conjunction with a walking tour. As Tony was going to leave us in Milan on Tuesday and the museum is not open on a Monday, that only left us the Sunday afternoon of our arrival! Done and booked in Melbourne sometime in early May!
So here we are in Milan on its hottest day in ten years. Around 36 degrees and steaming. Our lovely guide made sure we had plenty of shady stops while she gave us the history of the most stunning church I think I have ever seen. The Duomo is without doubt an imposing and awe-inspiring piece of architecture with its hundreds of spires and over 4000 statues inside and out. It is a never ending cycle of maintenance and cleaning.
Our guide walked us through the amazing Galleria Vittorio Emanuele with its calidiscope of colourful mosaic floors and impressive glass dome roofs. Then along the tram lined streets past La Scala, the most bland of facades belying the stunning opera theatre inside (Linda and I were able to visit and go into the boxes on our visit later in the week), past more churches, and into the Castello Sforzesco. It was a little cooler in here while we killed some time out of the burning sun waiting for the allotted 5.15 slot to view the Last Supper.
La Scala Opera House
Taking in the view on the tour of the opera house which is currently undergoing some maintenance.
Then finally we are at our premier destination of the tour. The Last Supper is in the Church of St Mary of the Graces, a nondescript church in an ordinary street in Milan. There are no crowds around because all visits are strictly controlled.
Tony left us to return to Melbourne before our side trip to Bellagio with Joan and John.
When you first enter from thermasticatically controlled double doors into the large room the first impression is wow! The fresco is very large and approx nine meters wide and nearly five metres high, very impressive indeed and well worth the wait. Although the colour was quite subdued, the painting appeared to be much larger covering the whole width of the room. Another special experience.
No photos can be taken of the Last Supper so our entrance ticket is as close as you will get!
After our cultural afternoon walk, we dropped John and Joan back at their hotel and headed out into the burbs where Linda, Tony and I were fortunate enough to be staying in the apartment of my friends Mary and Davide. They are currently holidaying in Canada and very generously offered me their large one bedroom apartment while we were in Milan. It's air conditioning was much appreciated after three hours of walking in the blazing heat.
Our lovely place to call home whilst in Milan - thank you Mary and Davide.
Milan by its own admission is not renowned as a tourist destination (although this is apparently changing), but it certainly gives Geneva a run for its money as far as shopping in the the BIG name stores is concerned. Here it's about fashion rather than watches and jewellery. Via Montenapoleone is a very non descript street which houses Georgio Armani, Dior, Versace, Prada, Chanel, but nearing the end of our seven week trip there isn't that much spare cash!!
Milan has a great underground which had a station close by so we took full advantage of their cheap and varied travel tickets which suit visitors and locals alike. Melbourne is so far behind with the disastrous Myki system!!! You only buy what you need here in Milan!!
The heat is very sapping and we only stayed out for the most about six hours by which time our feet and bodies especially were craving rest and air conditioning. This didn't however, stop us from enjoying this beautiful city.
Our stay in Milan was broken up into two parts with a three day side journey to Bellagio, but that another story.......
And then there were four.....
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