The tour was amazing! Barberini palace was wonderful but it’s the small churches that made the tour special. Renata was very knowledgeable and lovely, made the tour very personal and educational and fun.
Vera_M
Posted on Viator
Rome: In the Footsteps of Caravaggio Tour
Stunning paintings, beautiful churches and interesting anecdotes about Caravaggio’s troubled life
5.00(7)
Rome, Italy
2 hours
Pick Up Included
Share
Starting From380.00€
Overview
Itinerary
FAQ
Reviews
Art
Religion
History
Architecture
Step into the dramatic world of Caravaggio on this private walking tour through Baroque Rome, following the artist’s footsteps in the very places where his revolutionary masterpieces are still displayed today. Guided by an expert, you explore three historic churches that preserve some of Caravaggio’s most intense and emotionally charged works, exactly where they were originally intended to be seen.
The tour begins at San Luigi dei Francesi, inside the Contarelli Chapel. Here, Caravaggio’s cycle dedicated to Saint Matthew reveals his radical use of light and shadow, his raw realism, and his ability to transform sacred scenes into powerful human dramas. Your guide explains how these paintings broke with artistic conventions and reshaped the course of Western art.
From there, you continue to Sant’Agostino, home to the striking Madonna di Loreto. This work caused controversy for its bold realism, portraying holy figures with an unprecedented sense of humanity. Your guide explores how Caravaggio blurred the line between the divine and the everyday, challenging both patrons and viewers of his time.
The final stop is Santa Maria del Popolo, where the Cerasi Chapel houses The Conversion of Saint Paul and The Crucifixion of Saint Peter. These paintings represent the height of Caravaggio’s dramatic language, marked by tension, movement, and psychological depth. Seen in their original setting, they offer a powerful conclusion to the artist’s Roman journey.
This private tour is ideal for art lovers and curious travelers seeking a deeper understanding of Caravaggio’s life, style, and lasting influence, experienced directly on the streets and inside the churches that shaped his legacy.
What's Included
- Official Private Guide
- Pick-up from centrally located hotels
What's Not Included
- Drop Off back to your hotel/accomodation after the tour (available upon request)
- Transfers from a site to another
Highlights
- Explore the city off the beaten path, gaining a fresh perspective on Rome.
- Delve into Caravaggio's turbulent life and Rome's 16th-century church milieu.
- Your private, expert guide meets you at your hotel for a seamless Rome art walk.
- All arrangements with reservation fees and a hotel meet-and-greet, stress-free start.
Itinerary
1
San Luigi dei Francesi
45 minutesConclude the tour at Santa Maria del Popolo, inside the Cerasi Chapel. Explore The Conversion of Saint Paul and The Crucifixion of Saint Peter, two masterpieces that encapsulate Caravaggio’s dramatic vision.
2
Sant'Agostino
30 minutesContinue to Sant’Agostino to admire the Madonna di Loreto. Discover why this painting shocked Caravaggio’s contemporaries and how its realism marked a turning point in religious art.
3
Santa Maria del Popolo
45 minutesConclude the tour at Santa Maria del Popolo, inside the Cerasi Chapel. Explore The Conversion of Saint Paul and The Crucifixion of Saint Peter, two masterpieces that encapsulate Caravaggio’s dramatic vision.
FAQ
- Is the experience suitable for wheelchair users?
- Is there a specific dress code I should follow?
- Do I need to bring an official ID with me?
- How will I recognize the meeting point?
- Are transfers included in the tour?
You will love our Full Refund Terms
We offer a policy with full refund terms for this tour. The full details of the policy will be available in the booking form before placing the order and will be reconfirmed in the booking confirmation email.
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People Say About This Tour
Renata was knowledgeable and told interesting stories. She is also a lovely person who speaks English very well. She was flexible with the itinerary. If you are going to see these great art works then doing so with a guide like Renata immensely enriches the experience.
G4000ZCpeterw
Posted on TripAdvisor
We had a fabulous time with our expert guide Simone. He gives an imitate and educational tour of Caravaggio’s personal life and his amazing masterpieces featured in three churches of Rome. Simone is very personable, knowledgeable and his love of art is infectious. My favorite tour & guide in Rome.
Cheryl_T
Posted on Viator
We have used Eyes of Rome and in particular their fabulous guide Katie for the past 8 years whenever we visit Rome. This trip she recommended this “the footsteps of Caravaggio tour” with the add on of a visit to a restoration studio. This was the experience of a lifetime. First the visit to the three churches with their Caravaggio paintings plus the wander through the back streets of Rome to view the apartment he rented (still in use!) made for a pleasant day. Katie’s knowledge of Caravaggio and his works and influence are mind expanding and well worth the morning walk through central Rome. The highlight was the visit to the restoration studio. WARNING This is very expensive but to us it was worth every euro. This studio had restored a Caravaggio. Their explanations and demonstrations on the painstaking work it takes to accomplish such a remarkable feat was again a lesson you would never get anywhere else. The amazing thing we have found about Katie and Eyes of Rome is their ease of transferring knowledge about your tour without overwhelming you with information. A tour well worth taking
Z9578VHrobertb
Posted on TripAdvisor
Serena from Eyes of Rome met us at hotel, took us through the plan with recommendations before we start. We stopped by places we wouldn’t know ourselves and had best hot chocolate. She is very knowledgeable and make the tour very fun, our 9 years daughter love her. Will find her again when we come back to Rome some day.
Sheng Z
Posted on TripAdvisor
Thank you, Eyes of Rome, for the incredible walking tour: In the Footsteps of Caravaggio.The conversations with our guide, Stefania Pistone, will be with us always, and were the highlight of our time in Rome. Stefania is a remarkable educator. On a sparkling morning in February, we met at the Piazza de Popolo, marveling at the light, and Stefania helped us understand how the Renaissance architects were architects of light, using their design sense to heighten the theatricality of the natural light in the place we were standing, centuries after it was designed, and still sparkling. From the Caravaggio paintings we learned about together in small, out of the way churches, to the Pantheon whose history came alive thanks to Stefania, we look forward to returning to Rome and to the chance to explore more with Eyes of Rome as our guides.
Stephanie R
Posted on TripAdvisor
Our tour guide Marida was absolutely wonderful! She was so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and an enjoyable host! She loves Rome and it shows. The churches and works of Caravaggio were magnificent and the insight into his life and where he lived and worked were very enlightening. We have booked a number of tours but if you are a fan of Caravaggio this is a must do!! If I could give it more stores I certainly would!!!!
karen m
Posted on TripAdvisor