Caravaggio Masterpieces in Rome: Private Art Walking TourPrivate Tour

Things to know

What makes this tour special

Enjoy a private tour of Caravaggio’s astonishing and dramatic masterpieces on display throughout the historic centre of Rome including the Doria Pamphilj Gallery. Learn all about his wild reputation as the bad boy of Baroque Rome, as you admire his phenomenal paintings, famous for their ‘chiaroscuro’ dramatic contrasts of dark and light.

On your private tour, you will: 

• Explore the beautiful historic centre of Rome following the path of Caravaggio’s famous masterpieces;
• Learn all about the turbulent life of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, whose paintings were as dramatic as his wild reputation;
• Start by Palazzo Madama, today the seat of the Italian Senate, it was Caravaggio's home for four years;
• See the Baroque Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (St. Louis of the French) housing the triptych of the Calling of St Matthew, the Inspiration of St Matthew and the Martyrdom of St Matthew;
• Admire ‘The Madonna of the Pilgrims’ another masterpiece by Caravaggio in the church of San Agostino – depicting two pilgrims with dirty, muddy feet on their knees before the Madonna and child;
• Enjoy a guided tour inside the Doria Pamphilj Gallery housing 'The Penitent Mary Magdalene' and 'Rest on the Flight into Egypt' paintings.

Enjoy an in-depth guided tour of the life and work of Caravaggio with an expert guide through the historic centre of Rome. Few people’s lives have involved the same blend of mystery, murder and genius as the master Caravaggio.

Caravaggio was very much the bad boy of Baroque Rome. Famous as much for the number of times he was arrested as for his dramatic, masterful, and often controversial paintings. He once threw a plate of hot artichokes in a waiter’s face for bringing him the ‘wrong ones’ and would often swagger about town showing off his sword and looking for a duel – which was illegal!

But he had charm and charisma and was in high demand as a painter when he came to Rome, where he was employed by Cardinal Del Monte at the Palazzo Madama, which you'll walk past on your tour.

Caravaggio is most famous for the dramatic contrasts of dark and light in his paintings – the technique called chiaroscuro, which seemed to fatefully mirror the contrasts in his own life. He controversially used poor, often homeless folk as his models for great saints and images of the Madonna, which you'll see in the church of San Agostino.

Your tour will take you around the Rome that Caravaggio knew and into some of the churches that now house his priceless masterpieces, available to view for just a euro in the lightbox slot. Today one of his paintings will sell for millions – but Caravaggio was always hard up because of his tendency for late-night carousing!

You'll walk down the street where he committed the ultimate crime, and killed a man in a duel - before fleeing Rome with a price on his head - echoed in his portrait of David with the severed head of Goliath - a self-portrait of a man with a tortured soul.  

Your tour ends with a guided tour inside the Doria Pamphilj Gallery where you'll admire two of Caravaggio's paintings 'The Penitent Mary Magdalene' and 'Rest on the Flight into Egypt' among other artists. 

What you'll see

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