Naples Art Tour: Caravaggio and the Baroque

San Severo Chapel and Caravaggio in Naples: explore the Baroque era with an expert
From US$465 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
4 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Il Gesù Nuovo
  • Cappella Sansevero
  • Pio Monte della Misericordia
  • San Lorenzo Maggiore
  • Santa Chiara
  • San Domenico Maggiore
Photos & Highlights
  • Gain an understanding of Naples place in the evolution of Italian art
  • Led by an art historian
Select a date
Tour Description
The brilliant, tortured artist Caravaggio fled to Naples in 1606 after killing a man in Rome. The Baroque was in full swing in the city, and Caravaggio fit right in, painting several works including the masterpiece The Seven Works of Mercy. During this half-day Naples Art Tour, focusing on Caravaggio's time in the city and the Baroque movement in which he fit, we'll join a local art historian to discover some of Naples' greatest art treasures and look more closely at Caravaggio's influence.

Naples Art Tour

In the 17th century, Naples experienced a radical transformation, expanding from a population of 60,000 to nearly 300,000 residents. A good port for trade and home to fertile plantations (latifundia) in the surrounding countryside, Naples became a center of economic activity for the Florentines, Genoese, and, eventually, the Spanish Bourbons, who ruled the city for over a century. In this context, the arts (most notably, Baroque painting and architecture) flourished.


The Baroque in Naples

Beginning with Il Gesù Nuovo, a stunningly eclectic work of Baroque architecture that boasts paintings by Luca Giordano, Giovanni Lanfranco, and sculptures by Cosimo Fanzago, we will plunge into the crowded and culturally rich streets of Naples. By stopping at both nondescript chapels and majestic churches, such as the Cappella Sansevero, as well as the churches of San Domenico Maggiore and Santa Chiara, we can view some of the overlooked treasures that fill Naples' unassuming streets.

Caravaggio in Naples

The walk will continue on to San Lorenzo, an Angevin church containing important works by the court painter Luca Giordano, among others. We will also visit the Pio Monte chapel and palace, a powerful example of 17th-century architecture that contains Caravaggio's magnificent Seven Works of Mercy. The walk concludes with the multilayered and sumptuously-decorated Neapolitan Duomo, a monument to elaborate Baroque architectural design.

Take Aways

A must for art lovers, this walk, which swerves in and out of the alleys and side streets of the lively historical center, will illustrate why Naples is an important component in the evolution of Italian art.


FAQ

Where do we meet the guide? Where does the tour end?
You will meet your guide in front of Cafe Lazzarella, near Piazza del Gesù. The tour will end at the Duomo di Napoli. After booking, you will receive an email confirmation with the address.

Is this walk suitable for families?
Although it is not specifically designed for younger learners, we can adapt this walk to be more geared toward families. 

Is this tour walking intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible?
This tour is accessible to clients with mobility issues. Wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility can visit the entire nave area of the Sansevero Chapel (with the Veiled Christ), and the sacristy/bookshop. Unfortunately, visiting the Underground Chamber is impossible, as access to this space is via a narrow historical spiral staircase. All of the San Lorenzo Maggiore Complex is accessible, except for the Archeological Area. The church of Pio Monte della Misericordia is accessible via a ramp on Via dei Tribunali. The museum staff will help clients with mobility issues to access the Quadreria with an elevator. 

Is there any dress code for this tour? 
This tour visits several churches. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Dresses and shorts must be below knee level, and shoulders must be covered (zip-on jackets or scarves are acceptable). We recommend bringing along scarves or shawls to be able to cover those body parts.

Are tickets included in the tour price? You are prepaid only for the Sansevero Chapel tickets. There may be other nominal site entrance costs or other fees that are not included in the price of the tour. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for these since you will buy those on-site on the day of the tour. Your guide will assist you to purchase the correct tickets. 
Experts
Gioconda Gioconda
Archaeologist
Roberta Roberta
Archaeologist
Francesca Francesca
Art Historian
Raffaele Raffaele
Local Guide
Francesca Francesca
Art Historian
Paola Paola
Local Guide
Francesca Francesca
Local Guide
Riccardo Riccardo
Professor
Fiorella Fiorella
Art Historian
Where You'll Start
(4.87) 65 Reviews

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We learned so much and are provoked to learn much more—so many things that we did not know and now want to know further. (The city’s historical relationship with Freemasonry?) The highlight for us was the Veiled Jesus. Beautiful beyond belief.
Roberta is the perfect host and makes Naples come alive. She made sure that everyone in our group would discover her fantastic city equally, adding general historical information for the ones who had not visited Naples previously. These were useful to the whole group in understanding the art along the itinerary of this tour, which covers the historic center of Naples along with the most important artistic venues to see. We did not see the time pass by the end of the tour we already knew so much. I would recommend this tour without hesitation.
Roberta is an exceptionally knowledgeable and energetic expert in the treasures of the historic center of Naples.