Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Santa Maria della Vittoria
- Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
- San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
Photos & Highlights
- Explore three churches famous for their Baroque architecture while learning about religious icons and their role in Baroque art
- Led by a scholar of the Baroque
Select a date
Tour Description
In the mid-1600s, as gold from the Age of Discovery began pouring into Rome, two geniuses appeared on the scene—each attuned in a very different way to the city's transformation, and both put into motion the great artistic movement called the Baroque. During this three-hour Baroque Rome tour, we will explore the work of Bernini and Borromini visiting three extremely important churches that bear their imprint (one of which was made famous by a Dan Brown novel), and discover how the Baroque swept across Rome—and Europe at large—changing our understanding of the relationship between art and power.
Baroque Rome Tour
Our walk begins at Santa Maria della Vittoria to view Bernini's magnificent Ecstasy of St. Teresa, featured prominently in Dan Brown's popular novel. A sculptural masterwork, St. Teresa will enable us to think more significantly about religious icons and their role in Baroque art. We will also discuss patronage and why so much of Rome's great art of this period rests in churches—much of it in the same place in which it was created five hundred years ago. Participants who have taken one of our other art tours in Rome will be able to make connections and comparisons here to ancient art, the Renaissance, and other eras.
Our next stop, just down the street, is the even smaller but even more stunning San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane by Francesco Borromini. San Carlino, as this church is called, is a favorite among architects, with Richard Meier calling it one of the most inspirational. Our discussion of art and politics will continue here, we'll dig deeper into some of the finer aesthetic details that Borromini honed and which form the basis of high Baroque art.
Personalities in Conflict
As we peer into the biographies of both of these artists, who, though both influential, represent nearly polar opposites, we'll pull out some salient details. Bernini was the consummately connected insider who built a career—and studio of artists—churning out dozens of amazing works. Borromini, on the other hand, was the sole practitioner who labored for years on smaller, more private projects. Never to achieve the fame of his rival during his lifetime—and eventually committing suicide—many consider his work to be of a higher quality. Using biography as a lens, we'll look at how our conceptions of genius were shaped by the art of this period.
Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
Our final stop will be at Via del Quirinale with the church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Considered by many to be a masterwork of the Baroque, this small, intimate church offers a perfect place to discuss some of the basic principles of Baroque art and architecture—movement, perspective, grandeur—as well as diving into the social and political atmosphere in Rome during the 1660s. In the company of our guide, a trained art historian, we will learn how to pull apart the details of architecture and put them back together again, to read the program of the artist.
Want to explore more of our Rome architecture tours? Try our Forum Tour or our Colosseum Tour.
Take-Aways
We will emerge from our time together with a better understanding of the Baroque and an appreciation of the work of two of Rome's greatest artists—Bernini and Borromini. We will also have the chance to visit several lesser-known tourist sites that happen to house some of the most significant artworks in the world.
Experts
Where You'll Start
–
116 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
The history of Bernini was great and the background of how he and Borromini were related in time and their work was top notch.
I think I had expectations that there would be more discussions about Bernini's technique and that we would look at more of his work The discussions on what was happening in his life (accomplishments, dependency on Borromini, and having to excel in a dramatic way to get back in favor). This brought Bernini to life in a way we had not expected.
The trip to the Palace at the end was more about paintings including Caravaggio than Bernini and Borromini. While this gave us perspective about the times we were looking for the "all Bernini tour" :-)
In fairness, Lauren spent more time on the tour than planned (in the palace)
Patrick
Reviewed on:
May 15, 2013
Lauren Golden did a great job. The walk was very detailed and helped us really understand and appreciate Bernini and Barromini. We have always preferred Renaissance Art to Baroque. Ms Golden helped us better understand and appreciate baroque.
Christine
Reviewed on:
May 4, 2013
I will paste the review I have just put on Trip advisor. It sums up my satisfaction with the product.
I was lucky enough to have Lauren Golden as my guide for a small group tour of the Borghese Gallery and then again for a private tour on Bernini, Boromini and the Baroque in Rome. These were two of the most fulfilling and challenging tours I have ever taken. Lauren invites you to think about what you are looking at with critical eyes, and to be an active participant in discussion.
The itineraries are of course superb, and with the Baroque tour, perhaps a little off the beaten track. The Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane is a masterwork, and the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa is sublime. We discussed at length what shapes viewer perspective in interpreting art, which was particularly interesting in the context of Saint Theresa and the Counter Reformation. Lauren shifted the itinerary as I had already been to the Barberini Palace.
There was a small clerical issue relating to the start of the Galleria Tour which was minor, and did not effect my enjoyment of the tour. I ended up regretting using other companies who I thought would offer a similar product, particularly in the Vatican.
John
Reviewed on:
Apr 12, 2013
