More than just a church, Santa Maria delle Grazie is an art trove situated in the heart of Milan, Italy. Duke of Milan Francesco I Sforza ordered the construction of this Dominican convent and church - a UNESCO World Heritage site - whose Gothic nave was designed by Guiniforte Solari and completed by 1469. 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 and were completed in 1999. As a result of this work, Leonardo's original painting has now emerged. This involved addressing complex problems regarding both the painting itself and the environment of the refectory to protect the work from dust, fumes, and humidity.
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. Here, the brethren organize and host conferences on various themes pertaining to spirituality, philosophy, art, literature and sociology, in addition to musical concerts and artistic exhibitions.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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