Caravaggio - A Turbulent Genius. His Life and Work in Rome, Naples and Milan

This wonderful tour looks at the life and work of Caravaggio, one of early modern Europe’s most colourful characters and influential artists, in the company of accomplished art historian, Dr Peter Higginson. When he died in 1610 aged 38, Caravaggio was one of most famous and influential painters in Italy. Whilst his reputation slumped in subsequent centuries, in more recent times his stock has risen steadily to a new peak. His works are now widely regarded as the most immediately compelling and dramatically charged in the whole history of Italian art and many of them remain on display in their original cities and even original settings, which adds a fascinating component to the telling of his dramatic story.

Join Dr Peter Higginson on our tour which visits Rome, Naples and Milan to find out the truth of this most iconic of artists, whose paintings were radical and shocking and whose personality was arrogant, tempestuous and violent. It’s a heady mix of art and drama, brought to vivid life by your expert lecturer and guide, whose doctoral and later research has focused on the patronage, political, and the turbulent social context of Caravaggio’s formative years in Rome. The visits will consist of a host of galleries and churches, packed with masterpieces by the hero of this tour.

New for 2027, our tour will include private access to Villa Boncompagni Ludovisi to view the Caravaggio's only ceiling painting: Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto (c. 1597). This special tour of this private property will be guided by Prince Francesco Ludovisi Boncompagni, and also includes frescoed rooms and sculptures, as well as Caravaggio's masterpiece. 

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Rome.  
Our programme of visits commence this afternoon with a visit to the city’s Galleria Doria Pamphilj, where several of Caravaggio's paintings are displayed – Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Penitent Magdalene, and St John the Baptist. Housed in an historic palazzo, reputed to be the largest privately-owned in Rome, the outstanding collection has been collected since the 16th century by the powerful, wealthy and influential Doria Pamphilj family and is one of Rome’s least-known but best art galleries. Evening welcome drink, lecture, ‘The Challenge of Mother Rome: Religion, Politics, Society’ followed by dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Rome 
A packed day in Rome starts with the Augustinian church of Santa Maria del Popolo, which stands proudly on the north side of the Piazza del Popolo, one of the city’s most famous squares. Housed here are two Caravaggio works: The Conversion of St Paul and The Crucifixion of St Peter. We will continue on foot to the church of San Luigi dei Francesi (The Church of St Louis of the French), near the Pantheon to see Calling, Inspiration, and Martyrdom of St Matthew. It is a beautiful church in its own right and its austere exterior belies the splendour if its interior and its three Caravaggio masterpieces, painted in the first years of the 1600s and centred around the life of St. Matthew. Our last visit of the morning takes us to the church of Sant’Agostino to see the altarpiece for the Cavalletti chapel, depicting the Madonna of Loreto. After free time for lunch (not included) in the atmospheric and lively Piazza Navona area, we head to the Vatican Museum and the Pinacoteca Vaticana for The Entombment of Christ, one of the artist’s most celebrated works, where we have special permission to discuss the work as a group in the gallery itself. This is followed by free time to explore the museum’s many other treasures including the peerless Sistine Chapel (time permitting). Evening free to explore one of Rome’s myriad of restaurants.

Day 3: Rome
We start the day at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, dating back to the 14^th century and the Musei Capitolini for The Fortune Teller and St John the Baptist.  From here we head across the river to the atmospheric Trastevere area of the city and the Baroque Palazzo Corsini, home to an art gallery of the same name which houses another painting of St John the Baptist. Trastevere is a great place to find an atmospheric and tasty place for lunch (not included) to restore us for our afternoon in the city, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the Palazzo Farnese. This is one of the most important Renaissance palaces in Rome, and is home to the exceptional fresco paintings by Caravaggio’s arch rival, Annibale Carracci. This will afford us a crucial opportunity to further gauge the exact nature of Caravaggio’s position within the contemporary Roman art scene. Evening lecture, ‘The Artist Takes Flight: An Itinerant Artist in Naples, Malta and Sicily’ and dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Naples 
An early start takes us to the station and the high-speed train to Naples (journey time approx. 1.5 hours). A city like no other in Italy, or indeed Europe, Naples is a bustling and inspiring city, that is home to some of the country’s most important art, starting with the church of Pio Monte della Misericordia for Caravaggio's Madonna della Misericordia. From here we head to Gallerie d'Italia to study Caravaggio’s most likely last painting, Martyrdom of St Ursula. The collection includes paintings and sculptures from the Neapolitan and southern context from the 17th century through to the first decade of the 20th.  After free time for lunch (not included), our exploration continues to the Museo di Capodimonte, one of Italy’s foremost art galleries, this time housed in an historic 18th century Bourbon palace for Caravaggio’s Flagellation of Christ, along with important works by the master's eager young Neopolitan followers which make for intriguing comparisons. A late afternoon train will return us back to Rome for an evening at leisure.

Day 5: Rome
Another day in Rome takes us first to the superb Galleria Borghese in the heart of the beautiful Borghese Gardens to allow us to savour six of Caravaggio's works gathered together in one room: Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Sick Bacchus, David with Head of Goliath, St John the Baptist, St Jerome Writing and Madonna dei Palafrenieri. Next, to Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, for St Francis in Meditation. A well-earned lunch break is taken now before an afternoon at the stunning Palazzo Barberini, which houses the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, one of the most important painting collections in Italy. This is home to Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes and Narcissus, as well as works by Raphael and Holbein amongst many others.

Day 6: Rome
Begin our morning with a rare privilege: a private opening and guided tour of the Villa Boncompagni Ludovisi—part of the former 17th‑century Villa Ludovisi estate once celebrated as one of Rome’s most beautiful villas. Prince Francesco Ludovisi Boncompagni personally welcomes you into the Casino dell’Aurora, the only surviving building of the original complex, famous for housing Caravaggio’s extraordinary ceiling painting. Created around 1597 for Cardinal Del Monte, this is the only ceiling Caravaggio ever produced, depicting Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. The rest of the day is free.

Day 7: Milan
This morning we head back to the station for the high-speed service (journey time approx. 3.5 hours) from the country’s capital city to its commercial heart, Milan, which, despite its reputation as an economic powerhouse, is also home to wonderful collections of art. Caravaggio was born here and it was here that he trained as a painter. Our first visit will be to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, will show us his Still Life: Basket of Fruit. From here we will continue on a walking tour past the Cathedral, Palazzo Reale, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II area of the city. Evening free to explore Milan’s vibrant culinary scene.

Day 8:  Milan and home.
One of the world’s great art galleries occupies us on the last leg of this wonderful journey, as we head to the Brera Gallery to see the Supper at Emmaus (an earlier version is in the National Gallery in London). The Brera’s collection is one of the finest anywhere, with a roll call of world-renowned masters featured from Mantegna and Raphael to Tintoretto and Titian.  Some free time to further explore the city before heading to the airport for the return flight to London Heathrow.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions, weather, garden openings and tour manager's discretion.
Please note that some Caravaggio paintings may be removed from museums due to prearranged loans. 

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 22 passengers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as demanding due to the amount of walking involved during the tour, and lots of time spent on foot at attractions. Please visit the mobility page on our website, or call our team for more information prior to booking.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Rome, returning from Milan
• Six nights' accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at the three-star Domus Australia in Rome, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room 
• One night’s accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at the four-star C-Hotels Atlantic in Milan, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room 
• Three dinners
• Two lectures at the hotel 
• Airport transfers, trains, and coaching as per the itinerary
• Tours and all entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Dr Peter Higginson throughout 
• Tour manager throughout
  
  

 NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - £371
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTELS

Domus Australia, Rome
Domus Australia is a boutique guest house in Rome, offering a unique and welcoming refuge from the busy tourist pace of the Eternal City. Featuring it's own chapel, it was established by the Catholic Church in Australia, undergoing a three-year restoration before Pope Benedict XVI formally opened it in October 2011. Located inside the walls of the old city, the Domus Australia offers a rooftop bar, restaurant, and comfortable bedrooms with en-suite bathroom, wifi, TV, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities. 

Hotel Website

C-Hotels Atlantic, Milan 
Located opposite Milan Central station and a short walk into the centre of Milan, the four-star C-Hotels Atlantic has a fitness centre, bar, terrace,  breakfast room, and modern bedrooms. All rooms have en-suite bathroom, TV, wifi, minibar, hairdryer, and kettle.

Hotel Website