Bernini and the Baroque

While the Renaissance left its mark in Rome, it was truly the art and architecture of the 17th century that by and large defined the modern appearance of the Eternal City.

The 1600s in Rome meant High Baroque, a period characterized by theatrical, florid, and fanciful creations, particularly in the sculpture of stone, whether in the detail of a church façade, a fountain, or a free-standing statue. The greatest exponent of the Roman Baroque was sculptor-architect-painter Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who left his curriculum vitae virtually strewn about the city, from his masterpieces in St Peter's basilica to his lesser known but equally impressive works on the opposite side of town.

This special walking tour will take you through the highlights of the 17th century, concentrating mostly on Bernini, but no tour of the Baroque could ignore the work of Borromini, the tormented genius of an architect who created much, but who forever lived in the shadow of the more successful, more charismatic Bernini.

Sights visited: Piazza Navona, Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, Palazzo Montecitorio, Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane, Piazza Barberini, Galleria Borghese, St Peter's, Ponte Sant'Angelo
The itinerary can also be modified to include such Late Baroque (18th century) sights as the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.