Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
| Church of Holy Mary of ikem Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie | |
|---|---|
Holy Mary's facade, in the background its dome, made by Bramante
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Milan, Italy |
| Geographic coordinates | 45°27′57″N 9°10′16″E / 45.46583°N 9.17111°ECoordinates: 45°27′57″N 9°10′16″E / 45.46583°N 9.17111°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Province | Archdiocese of Milan |
| Country | Italy |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) |
Guiniforte Solari Donato Bramante |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style |
Gothic (Nave) Renaissance (Apse and Dome) |
| Groundbreaking | 1463 |
| Completed | 1497 |
| Official name: Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, |
| Designated | 1980 (4th session) |
| Reference no. | 93 |
| State Party |
 Italy
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| Region | Europe and North America |
Santa Maria delle grazie ("Holy Mary of Grace") is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, northern Italy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list. The church contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory of the convent.
The Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza ordered construction of a Dominican convent and a church at the site of a prior chapel dedicated to the Marian devotion of St Mary of the Graces. The main architect, Guiniforte Solari, designed the convent, which was completed by 1469. Construction of the church took decades. Duke Ludovico Sforza decided to have the church serve as the Sforza family burial site, and rebuilt the cloister and the apse, both completed after 1490. Ludovico's wife Beatrice was buried in the church in 1497.
The design of the apse of the church has been attributed to Donato Bramante, who at the time was in the service of the Duchy; however, there is scant documentary evidence linking Bramante to this church. His name is inscribed in a piece of marble in the church vaults delivered in 1494. Some documents though mention the name Amadeo, likely Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. Similarities between this church and Amadeo's design for Santa Maria alla Fontana make this attribution more likely.
In 1543, the Titian altarpiece depicting the Christ receives the Crown of Thorns was installed in the Chapel of Holy Crown, located on the right of the nave. The painting, looted by French troops in 1797, it is now in the Louvre. This chapel is frescoed with Stories of the Passion by Gaudenzio Ferrari. In the small cloister adjacent to the tribune near the door that leads to the sacristy is a fresco by Bramantino. The church also contained frescoes depicting the Resurrection and Passion by Bernardo Zenale.
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