The Secrets of S. Maria delle Grazie: Virtual Fruition of an Iconic Milanese Architecture

Virtual Reality (VR) technology emerges as a powerful tool for preserving and communicating cultural heritage, bridging the gap between history and contemporary audiences. This study demonstrates that VR can effectively document and revitalize inaccessible or historically significant sites, such as the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, home to Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.' By combining photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning, researchers reconstructed five key areas of the convent—The Cloister of the Frogs, the Cloister of the Prior, the Old Sacristy, the Small Sacristy, and the New Sacristy—into detailed 3D models. These were then integrated into a game engine to create an immersive VR simulation that offers unprecedented educational experiences and storytelling possibilities. The approach not only enhances architectural appreciation but also provides innovative ways to engage with cultural heritage, surpassing traditional documentation methods.

Bolognesi, C., & Aiello, D. (2019). THE SECRETS OF S. MARIA DELLE GRAZIE: VIRTUAL FRUITION OF AN ICONIC MILANESE ARCHITECTURE. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLII-2/W15, 185–192. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-2-w15-185-2019