Am I crazy...Venice to Santa Margherita Ligure with a quick stop in Milan in
 

Well, I wouldn't but if you want to, why not? Could you stay for more than 15 minutes? Maybe see Duomo?

I think the 15 minutes reference is to the amount of time you're allowed to view the Last Supper.

ajoecang, the most difficult aspect of your plan is getting Last Supper tickets for precisely the day and time that works with the train arrival/departure. Remember that you'll have to spend time depositing and retrieving your luggage at the train station.

Bit of a hassle stowing luggage at Milano Centrale to take the metro downtown Milan. but yes it may be your only chance to do so - be sure to book timed entry. And take regional train perhaps Milan-SML - not much slower than IC trains and you can just hop on anyone with a ticket. IC trains demand seat reservations before boarding and that ties you into a certain train at certain time. for lots on Italian trains check www.trenitalia.com - www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

I don't know if it's crazy, but if you seriously have zero interest in the marvelous city of Milano I sure wouldn't put myself through all those logistics just to see the Last Supper. You're not likely to come away with fond memories.

If just for 15 minutes then have a taxi take you and wait with your luggage until return to station. Makes it easier. should pop into Duomo too though for a few seconds.

>>I wouldn’t do that.<<

Neither would Pal ;)

Yes.

So Italian cab drivers are likely to steal anything left in the car?

As Jean says, the trickiest part would be getting tickets. They sell out within minutes of being put on sale. Your other option is to take a day (or half day) tour of Milan that includes the last supper, but you couldn't do that on a flying visit.

When are they - the tickets to Last Supper - put on sale? How far in advance can they be put on sale and sell out right away?

It's not just that tickets sell out within minutes of being release for sale, it's that the OP needs to have a timed entry within a defined window of time on a specific day. Also, I believe you need to arrive 15-20 minutes before your reserved time.

I don't know how far in advance tickets become available, but it isn't long. Maybe two months.

IMO, the best way to get tickets is to call when the ticket office opens on the day that the desired tickets are released. For those in the U.S., that might mean calling in the middle of the night.

I'd just say that there's a lot more to Milan than the Last Supper. It's a wonderful place, and you should also save time for the magnificent Duomo.

If seeing the Last Supper is mainly to have another box checked on the record of your life and it's not because you have a strong artistic/religious reason. I'd say you might decide on a better way to use your time. I suspect it is the former, as the latter motivation would not lead you to the first three words of your title.

I am not religious but am an art lover and DID make a special trip to Milan just to see The Last Supper. I did take the opportunity to visit other sites in the city - which are worth going if interests you.

I am not a bucket list checking off type of person myself, so if you merely want to visit to say you have seen it - the logistics of seeing it are challenging as others mentioned up thread.

In my situation, I watched the ticket release schedule daily until my planned days in the city were released. I woke up early that morning to be on Italian time - and they were already sold out.

I ended up booking a walking tour of the city (it was worth it, in my opinion) which included entrance to the monastery and painting. They purposely schedule that for the end, obviously.

If you merely want to stop in Milan to see the painting and do nothing else, logistically it would be difficult (like luggage storage on top of getting a ticket) and can be a gamble.

"So Italian cab drivers are likely to steal anything left in the car?"
I don't care what country, I'd never leave my belongings in a stranger's car and feel safe about it.
Especially when traveling, and everything you have is being left in that car.
Why would anyone take this kind of risk?
Craziness.

Do people really believe this is a seriously good idea? I'd be shocked, if so.

>>Do people really believe this is a seriously good idea? I'd be shocked, if so.<<

It isn't