Write off The Last Supper?

Either way works. What are your travel plans after the Last Supper? I think Centrale would be the better choice because there is luggage storage there. Not sure about Cadorna station. I would do Cadorna if I knew for sure there was luggage storage available at that station. Your time is sufficient for either route.

Don't write it off. It is worth your effort. For me, it is one of the few hyped things in Europe that is worth the time and expense.

By all means take the train, not the bus! Bus = traffic delays. Store your luggage at Centrale, then take the metro to Cadorna where you can walk to Santa Maria Della Grazie. We were blown away by Il Cenacolo as it is called in Italian. Don't miss it!

This question was recently answered. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/71520/cordona-train-stationmilan.html Just take the luggage from cortona. It is really close to the Last Supper. It's Italy.

I had a few email exchanges with another traveller on this same topic, as I am doing the same things as you - flying into Milan Malpensa and going directly to The Last Supper. We have a ticket for the afternoon of our arrival. I learned that you can take your luggage into the church with you for your viewing, so no need to extend yourself in travelling to Centrale to check it and then backtracking to The Last Supper. It is only about a 2-3 block walk from the Cadorna train station. See the link in the previous post and you will read exactly what that very helpful traveller did to investigate this matter on my behalf. Very gracious lady, indeed!

Don't write of the Last Supper. It may be the highlight of your trip. Very moving.

I can't help you with the transportation question but let me share this with you; I'm not the biggest art lover in the world. I had some art history classes in college so I've studied many of the famous artists, their works and what not. I came to Europe in 1998 and have spent the past 13+ years traveling all over western Europe including many visits to museums to view some of the most beautiful paintings and sculptures in the world but quite honestly they don't really do much for me. About ten years ago I took my first trip to Milan and it finished with a visit to view The Last Supper. We'd walked all over Milan all day and I wasn't really in the mood to wait in line but figured what the hell, came all this way, might as well see one of the most famous paintings in the world. When I finally got in the room where it's displayed, got in front of the painting and gazed upon it, I was overcome. I know it sounds corny but I was frozen, I could not take my eyes off of it. I've traveled to practically every corner of Western Europe and seen many famous things such as the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum and the Berlin Wall but for the one and only time, I was so overcome that I actually welled up with tears. I'm a tremendously cold-hearted bastard so my friends make fun of me when I tell that story but it's the truth. I can't explain why, just looking with my own eyes upon perhaps the most famous painting in the history of the world was just almost too much for me. So...yeah, do whatever you can to ensure that you see it.

Thanks to all of you, I really appreciate the help and encouragement. We were looking forward to seeing The Last Supper. Our panic came when we were going through the final logistics, looked at train schedules and realized we may not have enough time to get to Santa Maria Delle Grazie. Even better that we can leave our luggage there, so we don't need to go through Milan Centrale just for a luggage drop. Whew!

definitely don't write it off. It's impressive and well deserved of the hype. You can make either way work, and you'll get there in time.