Rome Baroque Tour: Art and Architecture of Bernini and Borromini

Compare and contrast two masters of the Italian Baroque
From US$430 privately
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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
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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, visit 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 on 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.

Looking to learn more about older Roman architecture? 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
Vittorio Vittorio
Art Historian
Olivia Olivia
Art Historian
Alessandra Alessandra
Art Historian
Emily Emily
Art Historian
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Sabrina Sabrina
Art Historian
Simona Simona
Art Historian
Tiziana Tiziana
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Archaeologist
Pier Paolo Pier Paolo
Art Historian
Maria Stella Maria Stella
Art Historian
Paolo Paolo
Art Historian
Dony Dony
Art Historian
Jose Jose
Artist
Luciana Luciana
Local Guide
Liz Liz
Architect
Fiorenza Fiorenza
Art Historian
Richard Richard
Medievalist
Arianna Arianna
Art Historian
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Alessandro Alessandro
Local Guide
Massimo Massimo
Local Guide
Priscilla Priscilla
Archaeologist
Laurie Laurie
Art Historian
Jeannette Jeannette
Art Historian
Marina Marina
Local Guide
Vannella Vannella
Art Historian
Sara Sara
Art Historian
Where You'll Start
(4.74) 103 Reviews

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Hilary was not only informative but entertaining with her easy-going sense of humor! Excellent!
Hilary was one of the best docents I’ve had on my Context tours! Her knowledge, humor, warmth, and leadership skills are terrific.
Really interesting 'walk' through the Baroque. Janet drew out so much more than just the gold, I learnt a lot about the politics & context in Rome at the time as well as more about baroque style & development. A really engaging few hours in good company.