The Last Supper

Before leaving the city square, I was thinking if we should go to look for the fashion or to look for a miracle.

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We checked with the tourist information center, and almost positively sure the chances to get the tickets to witness the world famous painting "The Last Supper" was near zero.

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Despite of all the unfavorable facts that we got, we wanted to try our luck anyway...

After we get off from the metro, we had to ask a man for direction. This man was very friendly and helpful that he even walked us some distances so that we could find the way easily.

On the way....

After 15 minutes walking, finally we saw the church in front.

Santa Maria delle Grazia (Holy Mary of Grace) is a church and Dominican convent in Milan. Also, it had been included in the UNESCO World Herritage sites list.

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The church is famous for the mural of "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory of the convent. Also, it gains a lot of attention and publicity after the movie "The Da Vinci Code".

Frankly speaking, this church looks nothing too special from its outlook. But it owns the most precious master piece in this world that make it so special instead.

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The time was nearly 6pm when we reached the check-in desk. In order to speed up, the kids and I waited outside, while husband dashed forward and asked the man who sat behind the window if there got any vacant ticket available? As expected, the answer was a definite "NO".

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Just when we were about to leave, I felt we should go to check for once again. This time, I walked near to the desk and asked that same man the same question. To my surprise, he made a gesture to signal me to follow him. Then he introduced me to a man who stood outside of the church, said that man got 1 ticket available for sale. Later, that man told me his friend couldn't make it to the church on time, so he could sell his spare ticket to me.

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Without a single hesitation, I took his ticket. He charged me the exact amount as shown on the ticket, that proved that he is a decent man and wasn't taking any advantage here. Actually, even if he did charge me extra, I won't mind at all.

So, this is the most precious ticket I have ever get in my life. And it only cost me €8 only.

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Husband said I really have 緣份 with the painting, so I should go to view it. He said he would take the boys to the nearby MD restaurant and waited for me.

This is the man who sold his spare ticket to me. I wanted to thank him more, but he looks like the reserved type. So, I think I better leave him alone.

Since the refectory building is so small, only little group of tourists can go in in every 15 minute. I counted my group, exactly 25 person in it. As usual, photo taking is strictly prohibited.

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The procedures of getting inside the hall is very strict. First, we were lead into the 1st waiting room when the exact scheduled time strike. Then, we were "locked" inside the 1st waiting room until the door to enter the 2nd waiting room is opened. Then, we were "locked" again before the door that lead us to the painting is opened. I imagined they were scanning every visitors in detail by some sort of X-ray, or sterilizing us with some sort of gas disinfectant.

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Finally, the last door was opened. Finally, I got to see the most protected painting in this world. Frankly speaking, the painting is not as remarkable as I thought it is, cause the color and the details of the painting has been faded palely. But still, I feel so lucky for having the rare opportunity to see it with my own eyes.

Copy of "The Last Supper" that was hanged outside the hall.

The Last Supper specifically portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him. All twelve apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock.

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Leonardo da Vinci had began the painting in 1495 and completed it in 1498. Unfortunately, Leonardo tried a new technique here which has led to the deterioration of the painting in very short time. As early as 1517 the painting was starting to flake. By 1556, less than sixty years after it was finished, the painting as already "ruined" and so deteriorated that the figures were unrecognizable. The painting's appearance in the late 1970s was badly deteriorated.

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From 1978-1999, a major restoration project was carried out to permanently stabilize the painting, and reverse the damage caused by dirt, pollution, and the misguided 18th and 19th century restoration attempts. Since it had proved impractical to move the painting to a more controlled environment, the refectory was instead converted to a sealed, climate controlled environment, which meant bricking up the windows.

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This restoration took 21 years and on May 28, 1999 the painting was put back on display. Since then, attending visitors are required to book ahead and can only stay for 15 minutes in the sealed room.

By the time I came out from the church, all of the entrance had been closed already. Looks like we were the last batch to go.

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Husband and the boys were outside there waiting for me. I was like an open-cage bird, illustrating the painting to husband non stoppable, in a show off manner (shame of myself). Really, I felt like I was one of the luckiest people in the world on that day.

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The boys complained about their tiredness in such a fussy way that we got to go back to the hotel straight away. After dinner, they refused to walk anymore. So my Fashion-plan had gone into vain. Although I am not a fashion follower, I felt a bit disappointed for not being able to see and feel the real fashion city with my own eyes. Sigh, like said : things just won't always to the way we want it to be...

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We woke up in a heavy downpour the next morning, so heavy that we would for sure get ourself all wet if to walk outside. Well, no point to worry. So, we went to the downstair restaurant to take our buffet breakfast first. The breakfast was surprisingly good, I felt so full and content with it.

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Lucky we, the rain get so much smaller by the time we need to go, otherwise, we would need to call a cab even though it's just a 10 minutes walking distance from our hotel to the airport bus' station.

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OK, finally I had completed this super long journal. Gosh, can't believe I took 3 months to document the whole trip. Anyway, I'm glad I didn't give it up somewhere.....

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Piazza del Duamo

We arrived at the train station a bit early than scheduled time.

Everything was smooth sailing, so we just waited there for the train to depart to our final destination.

The high speed train arrived at the station around 11 am. I quite like to travel by train in Europe region, cause from my experience, they are punctual and comfortable enough.

The boys were thrilled about the train ride too....after so many days travelling in the car.

The bottle caps that the boys have collected from the lakes side and Venice. They really treated those caps like their treasures.

They talked about the caps like we adults talked about investment and estate property...and they seem to have invented many ways to play with those caps.

I didn't have much interest to discuss their caps with them. Most of the time, I just looked out from the window or read the travelling book regarding the place we were about to go, Milano.

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I felt particularly interested when I read the part about the world famous painting "The Last Supper" that put in Milan. In order to admire this painting, the visitors need to make reservation through the internet at least 1 month before departure. Husband said when he got to know about this, it's too late already. What a pity.

One little thingy...We couldn't get 4 seats together. Weird though, these 2 men had refused to change seats with us, though our seats were nothing inferior than the places they were sitting on.

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For the whole journey that last for 2.5 hours, these 2 men talked none-stop, and they talked very loud as well. Even the boys who are normally noisy couldn't stand them. Anyway, it's good feeling that other passengers stared at them, but not to the boys.

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We arrived at Milano train station at around 1.30 pm The first thing we wanted to do was to find the hotel and off load the luggage. We have no problem to find the hotel since it is just somewhere nearby the train station.

To our surprise, the hotel that we have booked is a very nice one, considering it only cost us €130 (inclusive buffet breakfast for 3, €12 for the additional child).

This room is actually meant for 3 person only because the sofa bed is not big enough for 2 person. Well, the way we see it, it's big enough for my 2 boys lo.

And we were surprised to see this super big wash room.

And this jacuzzi bath tab, we would love to try it later.

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After taking a short rest in the room, we walked to a nearby MD for a simple lunch. Then, we took the metro and headed straight to the city center. Husband said we should pay a visit to cathedral in the city center.

Milan Cathedral (Italian : Duomo di Milano) is located in Lombardy. This Gothic cathedral had taken 5 centuries to be completed, and it's the 4th largest church in the world. Nevertheless, it is the largest Gothic cathedral and the 2nd largest Catholic cathedral in the world.

The roof line dissolves into openwork pinnacles that are punctuated by a grove of spires, topped with statues that overlook the city. The main spire is 109 meters high. So, this is definitely not a place for sky-diving.

Every where of the cathedral was crafted with statues, from top to roof, so no wonder it took 5 centuries to be completed.

Interior view of the Duomo di Milano. The way the paintings were hang instead of mounted on the wall is kind of special.

Also, it's quite bright inside the cathedral, really unlike the other churches which are normally dark or dim inside it. That makes this church less mysterious.

No doubt, this is a very beautiful church.

Altar of the Madonna dell'Albero.

The choir window.

Detail of the choir window. I think it tells the story of Jesus Christ.

When I first saw this mother-and-son's statues, I just felt that they look very familiar. Then I realized I saw it in the Church of Residence, Germany, just last year.

16th-century statue of St. Bartholomew with his skin thrown over his shoulder like a cloak. According to tradition, he was martyred by being flayed alive.

After 30 minutes, we walked out from the cathedral and looked for the entrance to go to the rooftop.

In order to go up to the roof top, we can choose to walk up the stairs - which are solid, square, and more roomy than many cathedral stairways - or take an elevator for a higher price. We choosed the latter. Luckily, children are free admission.

Within a minute, we were up there.

The views are magnificent and the opportunity to see the pinnacles and sculptures close up is worth a visit to the top.

The huge building is made of brick faced with marble from the quarries that Gian Galeazzo Visconti donated in perpetuity to the cathedral chapter.

The famous "Madonnina" atop the main spire of the cathedral, a baroque gilded bronze artwork.

The platform on the rooftop, where religion ceremony occasionally will be held here.

Lonely at the top.

A view of the Piazza del Duomo, the city's main and most central square, flocked by several palaces and important buildings, such as Milan Cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Royal Palace of Milan.

Just when I was about to tell the boys to look down for the magnificent view, I saw this. Sigh, the irritating cycle has just started again. To save my breathe, I just pretended I didn't see all this. Normally, they will back to normal 5 or 10 min later.

The sun was extremely hot in that afternoon time, so we didn't stay too long up there.

One last look to the beautiful wall.

After we get down from the roof top, we walked to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II triumphal arch, located just next to the cathedral.

Anyway, this place has nothing too special to me, since I did't come here for shopping. Instead, I wanted to go to the fashion district at night time. After all, Milan is one of the famous fashion city in the world. It would be nice to take a look of the place.

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Duomo di Milano from the Square.

A choir in front of the cathedral.

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After some discussion, husband and I would like to try our luck with 'The Last Supper' though we knew the chances to get to see this famous painting was approximately zero, without prior booking.

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