Michelangelo Merisi otherwise known as ‘Caravaggio’

An evocative walk to discover the fundamental places that defined the life of Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, and to retrace the salient facts that made him a protagonist in the art world of early 17th century Rome. Among the alleys of the historical centre, it is possible to find the places where the artist triumphed, suffered and created the extraordinary masterpieces that made him famous world over.

The Contarelli Chapel and the Madonna dei Pellegrini

The guided tour will start at the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi where we will admire the Contarelli Chapel, Caravaggio’s first great commission; three large paintings focusing on the life of the apostle Matthew. After having discovered the revolutionary style of Caravaggio we will continue to the nearby Basilica of Sant’Agostino, which preserves the extraordinary Madonna di Loreto, also known as Madonna dei Pellegrini (Madonna of the Pilgrims). We will then head through the streets of Campo Marzio to find the palaces where the artist lived, hosted by important Roman noble families, like the Giustiniani.

On the Trail of Caravaggio

Crossing Via della Scrofa we will discover the shops and places frequented by the artist until we reach Piazzetta della Pallacorda. In this square a man named Ranuccio Tomassoni was brutally murdered, a tragic event which forced Caravaggio to flee Rome. The last stop of the tour will be the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo where the artist decorated the Cerasi Chapel with two admirable paintings, products of his artistic maturity: The Martyrdom of Saint Peter and the Conversion of Saint Paul. The violent life of Michelangelo Merisi, made up of sublime revolutionary works but also of blood, quarrels and trials, is brought to life in this tour. The visitor will be able to immerse themselves in the fascinating daily life of an artist of 17th century Rome.