Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci


World Heritage Identification Number: 93

World Heritage since: 1980

Category: Cultural Heritage

WHE Type: Religious Sites & Sacred Architecture

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇮🇹 Italy

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie: A Cultural Treasure Trove Housing Leonardo da Vinci's Masterpiece, "The Last Supper"

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, nestled in the heart of Milan, Italy, stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of art, architecture, and spirituality. This architectural complex, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, offers a captivating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Renaissance Italy.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie forms an integral part of this architectural complex, begun in Milan in 1463 and reworked at the end of the 15th century by Bramante. On the north wall is The Last Supper, the unrivalled masterpiece painted between 1495 and 1497 by Leonardo da Vinci, whose work was to herald a new era in the history of art.

Encyclopedia Record: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, northern Italy, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 1.5 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (i) — Masterpiece of human creative genius
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values

Coordinates: 45.466 , 9.171

Image

Image of Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci

© Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Italy and the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: June 23, 1978

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1978-1985, 1987-1993, 1993-1999, 1999-2001, 2021-2025

Total of Mandate Years: 25

Total of Mandates: 5

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

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World Heritage Insights

Cathedrals and Churches on the World Heritage List: Masterpieces of Sacred Architecture

From monumental Gothic cathedrals in Europe to rock-hewn sanctuaries in Africa and wooden churches in northern and eastern landscapes, sacred Christian architecture has shaped cultural identities across continents. World Heritage Explorer highlights UNESCO World Heritage Sites where church architecture is central to their significance.

Last updated: April 9, 2026

Portions of the page Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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