In Medieval times, the so-called “Dark Ages”, Rome too experienced a relative blackout of artistic development and civil engineering.

It was during this period that the Papal household transferred to Avignon (France), provoking a great economic crisis in Rome. Many public projects were left to ruin or abandoned until 1418 when the pope eventually returned to the Eternal city.

From the 15th century onward a great Renaissance took place, inspiring genius through the 17th and 18th centuries to renew and develop Rome’s cultural and civic landscape.

Our Tour: Our 4-hour “Renaissance and Baroque Rome” tour will lead your through Rome’s rebirth and decadent artistic treasures inspired by the likes of Michelangelo, Bernini and Barromini. Our tour will pay testimony to the city’s grandiose palaces, squares, sculptures and fountains. We will show you just how these great artists and architects put Rome back on the map of world’s great cities of art and culture.

Our tour will begin by visiting the church of Santa. Maria della Vittoria, where you can admire Bernini’s sculpted marble masterpiece, the “Ecstasy of St. Theresa”. Continuing on up the Quirinale Hill, we will stop inside the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, the sacred space being Borromni’s architectural showcase.

After enjoying the hilltop view, we will then take you to the church of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, a worthwhile stop while admiring the its spiral-shaped dome and hexagonal architecture.

We will then take to you the Baroque church of Sant’Ignazio. This sacred space, housing the bones of the Jesuit order’s Spanish founder, is famous for a Baroque artistic prank. Here ,when you look up, your see a vast dome above. But you couldn’t be more wrong: it’s just three-dimensional surface painting!

Last Stop: The World’s Largest Church
Our tour ends inside the Vatican, while admiring the various artistic treasures designed by Michelangelo and Bernini to adorn Christianity’s most sacred and largest monument –St. Peter’s Basilica. The basilica’s dome (“cuppolone”) and colonnaded square were chiefly designed by Michelangelo while the breathtaking central altar is credited to Gianlorenzo Bernini.

While inside, take your time to visit this lavish marble-covered 23,000 square meter space. You will witness just why it is the world’s biggest church as your tired feet and legs become weary! But before you step out onto the sunlit St. Peter’s Square and into your comfortable vehicle, we will point you to Michelangelo’s world famous “Pietà” statue and where the bones of St. Peter himself lay.