Rome And The Three Masters: Bernini, Raphael, And Caravaggio

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When in Rome, it’s impossible to explore the city without hearing at least once the names of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael. Painters, sculptors, and much more, these three artists have influenced the development of Rome during the Renaissance and Baroque period. Join us and explore the Eternal City through the eyes of three of the greatest masters of all times.

Your tour will start at the feet of the Spanish Steps, a staircase of 174 steps that connects Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti. Here your guide will delight you with stories about the Piazza itself, from where it takes its name, as well as focus on the main attraction of the square, the Barcaccia fountain. Built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his father Pietro Bernini, the fountain represents a half-sunken ship and spits out drinkable water coming directly from the Virgin Aqueduct. Not far from Piazza di Spagna you’ll find the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, home to Bernini’s famous angels. Sculpted by Bernini for Ponte Sant’ Angelo, the bridge that connects the Castle of the Angel to the other bank of the river, the angels are two statues put at the sides of the presbytery of the church. One represents the Angel with the Crown of Thorns, and the other is the Angel with the Scroll. The statues were considered extremely valuable; therefore, they were moved from the bridge by order of Pope Clement IX.

Follow your guide as you continue walking down the narrow alleys of Rome till you reach the church dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Built during the Baroque period, it functioned initially as a chapel for the Collegio Romano, the convent and school of the Jesuit order. Gaze with awe at the magnificent frescoes that decorate the church, playing an optical illusion on its spectators. From here, you will continue towards Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the only Gothic like church in Rome. The church’s name, literally translating to St. Mary above the Minerva, derives from the fact that the first structure of the church was built directly on top of what was thought to be a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva, but turned out to be a temple in honor of the Egyptian goddess Isis. You’ll notice that in front of the church there is a sculpture of an elephant holding an obelisk on its back, one of the most curious monuments in Rome. Commissioned by Pope Alexander Chigi, the elephant is a statue designed by Bernini as a base for the smallest obelisk to have ever been brought back to Rome. Listen to the stories about how Bernini built the sculpture, and how it is said that he’d never seen an elephant in his life. In fact, the statue speaks for that matter, can you see why?

Before ending your tour in Piazza Navona, your guide will lead you to other two churches, San Luigi dei Francesi, and Sant’Agostino. The first church is home to the Contarelli Chapel, which contains a cycle of paintings of the great Baroque master, Caravaggio. Distinguished for his revolutionary use of the chiaroscuro technique, Caravaggio operated a lot in Rome as an artist of the Vatican. The Basilica of St. Agostino is the home to the Madonna di Loreto, a painting done by Caravaggio and situated in the Cavalletti chapel, as well as to Raphael’s fresco depicting the prophet Isaiah located on the third pilaster of the left nave. From this point, your guide will lead you to one of the most famous piazzas in the world, Piazza Navona. In ancient times it was known as the Circus of the emperor Domitian and was used as a competition area for athletic games. The main star of this square is, without a doubt, the Fountain of the Four Rivers designed by Bernini, who, as this fountain shows, was not only a critical sculptor but also played an essential role in the urban reorganization of the city. Listen to your guide narrating stories of how the Piazza was filled with water and used as a space for battleships, as well as stories about Bernini’s rivalry with Bramante, and much more. So there it is Rome through the eyes of the three great masters: Bernini, Raphael, and Caravaggio. Book now and fall in love with the city as they did!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Please be on time at the meeting point as you may lose your entrance time slot
• Please ensure you bring a copy of your voucher and a valid ID
• This is an easy stroll around Barcelona, however we recommend wearing comfortable shoes
• Because you will be visiting sacred sites, please ensure you wear a proper attire, covering shoulders and knees