Reliving history: the digital reconstruction of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan

A groundbreaking digital reconstruction of the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, home to Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper,' reveals the complex evolutionary history of this Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece. By integrating documentary sources, architectural treatises, period photographs, and 3D modeling, researchers mapped the chronological succession of the convent's transformations—from harmonious Renaissance interventions to incompatible 18th–19th century additions. The resulting 3D models not only serve as a tool for verifying reconstruction hypotheses but also create dynamic databases that can be easily consulted and updated, offering unprecedented insights into cultural heritage preservation and historical analysis.

Aiello, D., & Bolognesi, C. (2020). Reliving history: the digital reconstruction of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Virtual Archaeology Review, 11(23), 106. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2020.13706