Holy Relics Baroque Art and Architecture Rome Tour

3 hours Free cancellation

Holy Relics Baroque Art and Architecture Rome Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover how Catholic faith shaped Rome's Baroque art on a three-hour small personal group walk with a Catholic guide. The tour is unique in that it explains the theology of the baroque period and focuses on the important relics as much as the art & architecture that envelop them. At Sant'Agostino &San Luigi , visit St Monica's tomb and become enraptured by Caravaggio. At Sant'Ignazio, discover Jesuit saints' shrines and Pozzo's painted heaven.

Follow the theme of Catholic renewal during and after the Reformation through Bernini's Passion angels and his Ecstasy of St Teresa. Your guide explains how sacred images, relics, light and theatrical space express Catholic belief.

The route runs from Piazza Navona to Santa Maria della Vittoria via Trevi Fountain. To understand the Baroque one must understand the theology it expresses - from within the artists minds, not just as most tours view it through the eye of the observer.

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At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 7 people
People per booking: 1–7
Guide: Russian, Ukrainian, English
Operated by: Crucis Tours

Ages: Children (0–15 years) · Adults (16–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Expert Catholic guide

Itinerary

Piazza Navona

15 min

Start outside the Brazilian Embassy. Discover how the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the facade of Sant’Agnese in Agone shape this famous square. Outdoor stop. Stop durations are approximate and may vary with walking pace and church access.
Stop 2

15 min

See Caravaggio's Madonna di Loreto and visit St Monica's tomb. Explore pilgrimage, Marian devotion and the Catholic understanding of the saints' intercession, with Raphael's Prophet Isaiah providing a comparison with Renaissance art. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
Church of St. Louis of the French

20 min

Encounter Caravaggio's St Matthew cycle in the Contarelli Chapel. Consider how light, gesture and biblical narrative invite reflection on Christ's call, grace, conversion and faithful witness within the Catholic renewal of the period. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola

20 min

Discover Andrea Pozzo's ceiling and painted dome, then the shrines associated with St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Robert Bellarmine and St John Berchmans. Connect the Jesuits' artistic programme with mission, holiness and Catholic renewal after the Reformation. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.
Basilica di Sant'Andrea delle Fratte

15 min

See Bernini's original angels with the Crown of Thorns and the Superscription. Learn how these sculpted symbols direct attention to Christ's Passion, and discover Borromini's contribution to the church. The objects held by the angels are sculpted representations. Interior visit, subject to access; continue from here to Trevi Fountain.
Trevi Fountain

10 min

Pause at the celebrated fountain as the route crosses the historic centre after Sant’Andrea delle Fratte. Outdoor stop in the public square; entry to any ticketed viewing area is not included.
Santa Maria della Vittoria

20 min

Finish before Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa in the Cornaro Chapel. Explore the work through Teresa of Avila's account of divine love and the role of sculpture, light and architectural setting in expressing mystical prayer. This stop concerns the sculpture, not a visit to Teresa's bodily relics. Interior visit, subject to church and chapel access.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide immediately outside the Brazilian Embassy (Embassy of Brazil) in Piazza Navona, Rome.

End point

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Church dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Students must bring valid ID. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult or student. This three-hour walking tour is not suitable for significant mobility or stamina difficulties.