Bramante Sacristy

One of the most famous attractions in Milan, the thing that nearly everyone wants to see even on a short visit, is Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper” fresco in the Santa Maria della Grazie church. That's not the only thing to see in that church, however. You can also visit the beautiful Bramante sacristy, designed by the Italian architect Donato Bramante in the late 15th century.
The Duke of Milan hired two of the best artists of the time to work on expanding and beautifying the existing Santa Maria della Grazie convent. Leonardo da Vinci was asked to paint a fresco on the wall of the refectory, while Donato Bramante was asked to build a new sacristy. Bramante's sacristy was built a short distance from the church, and the architect connected the two with a pretty cloister.
The Bramante sacristy is a long, rectangular room with a small chapel-like space at one end. A sacristy is typically the place where religious vestments are stored, but the 15th century cabinetry that once held the vestments are no longer in the room. The vaulted ceiling was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and his workers in the same fashion that he painted the ceiling of the refectory – a blue background with golden stars.
Today, the Bramante sacristy is part of the Dominican Cultural Center, and the space is used for special events, concerts, and exhibits. Part of da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus (including his sketches and notes) has been on display in the sacristy since 2009. The cloister that connects the sacristy with the church is also a lovely space to visit, with a fountain at its center and flowers lining the walls.

Practical Info

The Bramante Sacristy is open Mondays from 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, and Tuesday-Sunday from 8:30am-7:00pm. Tickets are €10.