Michelangelo works and Renessaince tours
Michelangelo was a sculptor, painter and architect widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance — and arguably of all time. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. His contemporaries recognized his extraordinary talent, and Michelangelo received commissions from some of the most wealthy and powerful men of his day, including popes and others affiliated with the Catholic Church. His resulting work, most notably his Pietà and David sculptures and his Sistine Chapel paintings, has been carefully tended and preserved, ensuring that future generations would be able to view and appreciate Michelangelo’s genius.
Renaissance art in Rome began to leave its traces around the second half of the fifteenth century. From Florence, recognized as the undisputed theatre of the Renaissance so as to be called “the cradle of the Renaissance”, artists, painters, architects and sculptors move to Rome, where they will leave some of the most famous works in the world.
In this period the Popes in Rome become real patrons; it is thanks to the funds granted by the clergy that artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Antonio da Sangallo, Pietro da Cortona, Bramante and many others begin to work, carrying out major projects.
Rome during the Renaissance appeared as a real construction site, the city was in fact concentrated in archaeological excavations that brought to light a large number of historical finds dating back to ancient Rome, such as the famous Domus Aurea of Nero. Not only that, the Church paid great attention to the restoration of churches and monuments for which the greatest architects and painters of the time were called. In particular, the palaces and churches of Rome were enriched with frescoes and decorations of rare beauty that can still be admired by visiting the city.
Among the most important artistic projects of the Renaissance in Rome it is worth remembering the reconstruction and decoration of the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican palatine chapel, dedicated to Sixtus IV. Lorenzo il Magnifico for this ambitious project sent to Rome the most illustrious Florentine artists of the moment, including Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli. The works then continued under the direction of Michelangelo and the other great fresco artists of the moment. Inside the Vatican Museums, in addition to the Sistine Chapel, you will have the opportunity to admire several testimonies of Renaissance Roman art, including the masterpieces of Raphael, another protagonist of the Renaissance art in Rome, who was responsible for the realization of paintings and frescoes that are now preserved in the Rooms and Loggias of Raphael. If you are fond of Renaissance art we suggest you also visit the Borghese Gallery, where there are important works by Raphael and Caravaggio.
Testimonies of the art of the Renaissance meet almost everywhere walking around Rome. Among the Renaissance palaces we remember Palazzo Farnese, built by Antonio da Sangallo and completed by Michelangelo, Palazzo Spada, seat of the Galleria Spada, Palazzo della Cancelleria, today seat of the Tribunal of the Sacred Rota and the beautiful Palazzo Venezia.
Of great artistic interest are also the Renaissance churches of Rome, such as the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, inside which are the masterpieces of Bernini and Caravaggio, the Church of Sant’Agostino, which contains a fresco by Raphael and the famous Madonna dei Pellegrini by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. We also remember the Renaissance facade of the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, the work of Giacomo della Porta and the church of Santa Maria della Pace, where you can admire the chapels designed by Sangallo, the “Sibille” painted by Raphael, the frescoes by Baldassarre Peruzzi and above all he famous cloister of Bramante.
Among the other monuments of the Roman Renaissance we suggest you to visit Ponte Sisto, also dedicated to Sixtus IV, Via Giulia, the famous Roman road designed by Bramante, Piazza del Campidoglio and Campo dei Fiori, where there is the statue of Giordano Bruno.
Guided tours where to admire the most important masterpieces of Michelangelo & the highlights of the renaissance will be arranged with certified tour guide can be combined with our private driver limousine transport service ( if required costs will be add accordingly ). Please specify before booking.
Rates do not include entrance fees to museums.
Costs per hour are as follows:
From 1 to 2 people…€ 50 per hour
From 3 to 4 people….€ 70 per hour
From 5 to 8 people….€ 80 per hour
From 9 to 12 people….€ 90 per hour
From 13 to 16 people….€ 95 per hour