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Offered languages
- English
Discover how Catholic faith shaped Rome's Baroque art on a three-hour small personal group walk with a Catholic guide. The tour is unique in that it explains the theology of the baroque period and focuses on the important relics as much as the art & architecture that envelop them. At Sant'Agostino &San Luigi , visit St Monica's tomb and become enraptured by Caravaggio. At Sant'Ignazio, discover Jesuit saints' shrines and Pozzo's painted heaven.
Follow the theme of Catholic renewal during and after the Reformation through Bernini's Passion angels and his Ecstasy of St Teresa. Your guide explains how sacred images, relics, light and theatrical space express Catholic belief.
The route runs from Piazza Navona to Santa Maria della Vittoria via Trevi Fountain. To understand the Baroque one must understand the theology it expresses - from within the artists minds, not just as most tours view it through the eye of the observer.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet your guide immediately outside the Brazilian Embassy (Embassy of Brazil) in Piazza Navona, Rome.
Itinerary
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1Piazza Navona
Start outside the Brazilian Embassy. Discover how the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the facade of Sant’Agnese in Agone shape this famous square. Outdoor stop. Stop durations are approximate and may vary with walking pace and church access.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Basilica di Sant’Agostino
See Caravaggio's Madonna di Loreto and visit St Monica's tomb. Explore pilgrimage, Marian devotion and the Catholic understanding of the saints' intercession, with Raphael's Prophet Isaiah providing a comparison with Renaissance art. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Church of St. Louis of the French
Encounter Caravaggio's St Matthew cycle in the Contarelli Chapel. Consider how light, gesture and biblical narrative invite reflection on Christ's call, grace, conversion and faithful witness within the Catholic renewal of the period. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola
Discover Andrea Pozzo's ceiling and painted dome, then the shrines associated with St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Robert Bellarmine and St John Berchmans. Connect the Jesuits' artistic programme with mission, holiness and Catholic renewal after the Reformation. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Basilica di Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
See Bernini's original angels with the Crown of Thorns and the Superscription. Learn how these sculpted symbols direct attention to Christ's Passion, and discover Borromini's contribution to the church. The objects held by the angels are sculpted representations. Interior visit, subject to access; continue from here to Trevi Fountain.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Trevi Fountain
Pause at the celebrated fountain as the route crosses the historic centre after Sant’Andrea delle Fratte. Outdoor stop in the public square; entry to any ticketed viewing area is not included.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Santa Maria della Vittoria
Finish before Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa in the Cornaro Chapel. Explore the work through Teresa of Avila's account of divine love and the role of sculpture, light and architectural setting in expressing mystical prayer. This stop concerns the sculpture, not a visit to Teresa's bodily relics. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Church dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Students must bring valid ID. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult or student. This three-hour walking tour is not suitable for significant mobility or stamina difficulties.
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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