A coherent journey between The Last Supper, the Sforza court and the machines at the Science Museum — with a sensible visiting order, the bookings to arrange and what each place reveals about Leonardo.
Yes, all three places can be visited in one day.
But the order should not be chosen at random. Your Last Supper booking determines the whole day : book this timed ticket first, then schedule the Science Museum before or after it and finish at Sforza Castle. The three sites reveal different aspects of Leonardo: the painter, the court artist and the engineer whose work is reconstructed through 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
Arrive at the Cenacolo ticket office at least 30 minutes before the reserved slot with your ticket and ID, then discover the neighborhood and the church.
The visit to The Last Supper currently lasts 15 minutes.Science Museum
The Leonardo galleries place drawings, machines, techniques and legacy in 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.
La Sala delle Asse remains linked to a restoration project.End of the itinerary
Walk towards the city centre or visit the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana on another day to complement the itinerary.
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, artworks, early books and multimedia installations. They explore Leonardo’s training, working methods, time in Milan and the later reception of his ideas.
Nuance is essential: many of the machines on display are models built from drawings, often several centuries after his lifetime. They were not all built or tested by Leonardo. The museum’s value lies precisely in explaining the chain from drawing to interpretation to object.
2026 schedules to check
Since September 15, 2026, the museum opens Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Last entry one hour before closing; closed on ordinary Mondays. Check for exceptional openings on the official website.
Find the court artist
At the castle, Leonardo is more than the creator of The Last Supper. He appears as a decorator, organiser of festivities, engineer and designer of monumental projects in the service of Ludovico Sforza.
The Sala delle Asse retains its large decoration of branches, cords and 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 includes a multimedia installation devoted to the great room with its painted canopy of trees and its material history. The itinerary also renews the presentation of artists influenced by Leonardo. The castle’s collections include a notebook in Leonardo’s own hand and a study for the Head of Leda, although these fragile works are not necessarily on permanent display.
The right reflex
Check the official page on the day of your visit: restoration work, rotating displays and temporary installations may affect access. Do not confuse the digital installation with full access to 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 decoration, festivities, dynastic propaganda and the equestrian monument show the breadth of his service to the Sforza family.
The engineer reinterpreted
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 the Ambrosiana
It complements this itinerary better than a rushed fourth 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 allows 15 minutes in front of the work, in a group limited to 40 people. Allow extra time for arrival and ticket checks.
Is the Sala delle Asse open?
Access depends on the restoration work. In 2026, the castle offers a multimedia installation devoted to the room; check what is directly accessible before visiting.
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 you add the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana?
Yes, if you have an extra half-day or a second day. It holds Portrait of a Musician and displays sheets from the Codex Atlanticus on 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.
Real photo of the place
Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan
This photograph shows the church and convent where The Last Supper is kept, one of the essential places in Leonardo da Vinci's Milanese journey.
Photo: Yair Haklai . CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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