Leonardo da Vinci in Milan
A coherent journey between The Last Supper, the Sforza court and the machines of the Science Museum - with the right order of visit, the reservations to be expected and what each place really reveals about Leonardo.
Yes, all three places can be visited in one day.
But the order should not be chosen at random. Reservation of The Last Supper requires all day : take this time-stamped ticket first, then place the Science Museum before or after, and finish at Sforza Castle. The three sites tell of different Leonards: the painter, the court artist and the engineer reconstructed by the history of technology.
The correct order of visit
This example starts from a morning ticket to The Last Supper. If your slot is in the afternoon, simply reverse the first two large blocks. Always keep a margin: ticket control, walking and city traffic make too tight sequences uncomfortable.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Arrival early, collection or check of the ticket, then discovery of the neighborhood and the church.
The visit to The Last Supper currently lasts 15 minutes.Science Museum
The Léonard galleries place drawings, machines, techniques and heritage in their context.
Allow 2 to 3 hours if you are also exploring transportation.Castello Sforzesco
Court, museums, Leonardo program and context of the commission of the equestrian monument.
The Sala delle Asse remains linked to a restoration project.End of course
Walk towards the center or, another day, complement the Pinacothèque Ambrosienne.
Don't overload the day with a fourth major museum.Start with The Last Supper
Painted between the 1490s and the end of the century for the Dominican convent, The Last Supper transforms the refectory wall into a mental scene. Christ has just announced the betrayal: the apostles react in waves, while perspective brings everything back to the central face.
The current visiting system protects an extremely fragile work. The museum announces entry in groups, a presence of 15 minutes and a maximum of 40 people by slot. Reservation is required, including for free tickets. Always check the exact rules at the time of purchase.
Before buying
- Book only via the official ticket office or its indicated channels.
- The last announced access is at 6:45 p.m.; slots can be full well in advance.
- The Last Supper ticket and general access to the church are two separate experiences.
The two sites are neighbors. This proximity makes the museum ideal just after the Cenacolo slot.
The route leads to the northeast and allows you to reach the castle without increasing transport.
A real break avoids turning the end of the day into a race through the rooms.
Understand machines, not look for relics
The Leonardo da Vinci galleries cover more than 1,300 m² and bring together more than 170 historical models, works, old volumes and multimedia devices. They present Leonardo's training, his working methods, his time in Milan and the fortunes of his ideas.
Nuance is essential: many of the machines on display are models built from drawings, often several centuries after him. They were not all made or tested by Leonardo. The museum is valuable precisely because it explains this chain between leaf, interpretation and object.
2026 schedules to check
The museum announces seasonal hours: until September 13, 2026, Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday/public holidays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; from September 15, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday/public holidays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; from September 15, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and weekend 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and weekend
Find the court artist
At the castle, Leonardo is no longer just the author of The Last Supper. He appears as a decorator, party organizer, engineer and designer of monumental projects in the service of Ludovic Sforza.
La Sala delle Asse retains its large decoration of branches, cords and sixteen mulberry trees forming a plant vault. But the room remains linked to a long restoration project: the visitor should not be promised direct and complete contemplation of the decor.
In 2026, the program Leonardo a Milano notably offers a multimedia installation dedicated to the large tree-lined room and its material history. The route also renews the presentation of "Leonardesque" artists. The castle's funds also have an autograph notebook and a study for the Head of Leda, without these fragile parts necessarily being permanently exposed.
The right reflex
Check the official page on the day of your visit: catering, rotations and temporary devices may change access. Do not confuse the digital installation with the full opening of the original room.
What each step reveals about Leonardo
The painter of the moment
Composition, psychology of gestures, perspective and light transform a religious scene into a collective drama.
The Court Artist
Plant decor, party, dynastic propaganda and equestrian monument show the extent of the service rendered to the Sforza.
The engineer reread
The models explain how drawings were reconstructed, interpreted and sometimes mythologized by subsequent generations.
The sheet and the portrait
The Portrait of a musician and the rotations of the Codex Atlanticus provide access to original works on paper and panel.
Add Ambrosian
It completes this course better than a fourth hasty stop on the same day.
Portrait of a musician
The only male portrait painted on panel generally attributed to Leonardo and preserved in Milan. The sheet held by the model still fuels debates about its identity.
Codex Atlanticus
The original drawings are presented by rotation in the Sala Federiciana. Visible content varies: check current selection.
Practical visit
The Pinacoteca usually announces 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., closing on Wednesdays, Piazza Pio XI 2. Allow around 90 minutes. Official information.
The checklist that avoids unpleasant surprises
The Last Supper, reproduced by hand
The panoramic composition naturally finds its place above a large table or in a horizontal room. The boutique offers a hand-painted reproduction and a collection dedicated to the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
Organize your Leonardo journey in Milan
Can we visit The Last Supper, Sforza Castle and the Science Museum on the same day?
Yes. The three sites are close enough to form a coherent day, provided you build the itinerary around the slot reserved for The Last Supper.
Should you book The Last Supper well in advance?
Yes, it is strongly recommended. All access is time-stamped and reservation is required. Tickets are released in periods; check the official ticket office.
How long does the visit to The Last Supper take?
The museum currently announces 15 minutes in front of the work, in a group limited to 40 people. Allow extra time for arrival and check-up.
Is the Sala delle Asse open?
Its status depends on the restoration site. In 2026, the castle offered a multimedia installation dedicated to the room; check before the visit what is directly accessible.
Were the museum machines built by Leonardo?
No, not the majority. They are mainly historical models made from his drawings. Their interest is to show how his ideas were interpreted.
What is the best visit order?
Start with the schedule obtained for The Last Supper. With a morning slot: Cenacolo, Science Museum, lunch, Sforza Castle.
Should we add the Pinacothèque Ambrosienne?
Yes if you have half a day or a second day. It keeps the Portrait of a Musician and presents sheets of the Codex Atlanticus in rotation.
Is the route suitable without a car?
Yes. It is designed for walking and urban transport. Central distances remain reasonable, but check your route the same day.
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