Is the Milan Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery Tour Worth It? A Review

Visiting Milan and thinking that a long tour of Leonardo da Vinci’s work is that right thing to do? Well, it’s almost like you’re wondering if spending almost a whole day absorbed in the art of this superstar genius is, in a way, really worth your time and hard-earned cash. So, I recently tried the Milan 15 Hour Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery Tour, and, naturally, I want to share what that experience was actually like.

What the Tour Covers, more or less

First off, that tour aims to show you just a bit of Leonardo’s life and contributions in Milan, taking you to places like the Santa Maria delle Grazie to see The Last Supper, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana which houses the Codex Atlanticus, and also the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. That’s the plan. It seemingly intends to give you just a good overview of Da Vinci’s mind, both as an artist and maybe a bit as an inventor, yet what really matters is the actual doing of it.

Santa Maria delle Grazie and that Supper

Seeing The Last Supper is definitely the main event. You know, that whole experience needs booking way, way in advance. The tour company seemingly handles all that, which, to be honest, is a big stress reliever. When you finally get in there, you are given about fifteen minutes with the artwork itself. It’s really very crowded. That fresco is rather something, even with like a bunch of other folks also gawking at it. All that being said, it’s just a little difficult to soak in with people bumping into you while also squinting to try and spot details. Then again, who can control tourist behavior, right? The actual atmosphere is just, you know, far from contemplative.

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the Codex Atlanticus

Next up, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana houses this very collection of Leonardo’s drawings and writings called the Codex Atlanticus. Is that place far less crowded than *that* supper visit, to be sure, so you actually get the opportunity to have a better look at Da Vinci’s sketches and notes. The exhibition gives you some good insight into his thinking, that. It can just be a little overwhelming with so many pages of notes and diagrams. I’d like to recommend just focusing on pieces that immediately grab your interest. It’s really very easy to lose several hours there if you let yourself go down every interesting rabbit hole.

Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

Honestly, this museum’s models of Leonardo’s inventions is that cool bit of the tour. You get to look at physical versions of his drawings, which is something you can understand if you are not super into reading old handwriting. They, too, have built all sorts of contraptions from his sketches, and it makes you appreciate just how ahead of his time he really was. That being said, the museum itself is really very large, and that tour, you will probably be getting tired, so pacing yourself becomes kind of important here.

Is 15 Hours too much? A little, perhaps

Okay, so let’s be clear: 15 hours is really a lengthy time. By the time we reached that third location, the science and tech museum, more or less, everyone in that group was running on fumes. It can seemingly be hard to maintain real enthusiasm throughout that whole time, even when Da Vinci’s stuff is amazing. Possibly, this tour could benefit from maybe cutting out like one of the less significant stops or even splitting it into two shorter tours over a couple of days.

That Tour Guide, more or less

That quality of that guide is super important on any tour, right? Ours really seemed knowledgeable and was very into Da Vinci’s life. That being said, at times, they seemingly moved just a little too fast, mainly when they talked about the historical context, yet they were seemingly open to questions. The quality of your experience could possibly hinge on getting a guide who knows what they’re doing, is that you should make sure the company can guarantee a good one. If you can check into that beforehand, do so.

Is It Worth Your Time? Let’s see

So, is a long day looking at Leonardo da Vinci’s Milan basically worth your time? Yes, to be fair, I do believe so, if you have like a genuine interest in art and history, and also if you are cool with long days of walking and standing. The chance to view The Last Supper and the Codex Atlanticus is definitely worth the effort, even if it feels a little rushed. Just a shorter version, or one split into separate visits, that seemingly might be just a little more enjoyable for those with shorter attention spans or less stamina.

Remember to confirm:

Booking Flexibility: That the tour allows for changes or cancellations, especially given possible travel disruptions.
Small Group Size: A tour that limits the amount of participants is something to consider for a more intimate experience.
Inclusions: So, find out exactly what is that all-inclusive. Are transportations between locations included? How about lunch?

Consider those, to be more comfortable. But yeah, its that Leonardo da Vinci!

More Tours like this

You could like other tours, too.

Hidden Brilliants: A Milan Art Tour that includes art from the 14th to the 21st century, to see where artists thrived under the patronage of powerful families.
Art Tour with Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini, to learn about the great, unfinished sculpture of one of the top-tier artists.

Those experiences may add a thing or two, to learn all about Milan Art Scene.

Happy art seeking!

#Milan #DaVinci #ItalyTravel #ArtTours #CulturalHeritage