More than just a church, Santa Maria delle Grazie is an art trove situated in the heart of Milan, Italy. Commissioned in 1469 during the reign of Francesco Sforza, this Dominican convent and church - a UNESCO World Heritage site - boasted a Gothic nave completed by Guiniforte Solari. Decades later, the church served as the Sforza family's burial ground. Beatrice Sforza, the wife of Ludovico Sforza, was laid to rest here in 1497. Despite damage during World War II, preservation efforts began in 1978, returning Leonardo’s original painting to its former glory.
The Chapel of the Holy Crown inside the church is adorned with stories of the Passion, painted by Gaudenzio Ferrari, while Bramantino's fresco nearby reveals the profound connection of art in Milan during the Renaissance. The Old Sacristy, designed by Donato Bramante, is now the seat of a Dominican Cultural Centre, hosting conferences, talks, and exhibitions to keep the story of Santa Maria delle Grazie alive for generations to come.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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