Art & History Abroad Tours
Caravaggio, A Turbulent Genius: His Life & Work in Rome, Naples & Milan
We follow Caravaggio through Rome, Naples and Milan, seeing works in galleries, churches and original settings that give his story its force. A private viewing of his only ceiling painting adds a rare point of access to a tour led by Dr Peter Higginson.
This tour considers the life and work of Caravaggio, one of early modern Europe’s most compelling and influential artists, in the company of art historian Dr Peter Higginson.
New for 2027, we include private access to Villa Boncompagni Ludovisi to view Caravaggio’s only ceiling painting, Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto (c.1597). This visit to the private property will be guided by Prince Francesco Ludovisi Boncompagni and also includes frescoed rooms and sculptures, adding important context to the work itself.
Caravaggio died in 1610 at the age of 38, already one of the most famous painters in Italy. Although his reputation declined in later centuries, his standing has risen sharply in more recent times, with his work now recognised for its immediacy, drama and remarkable influence on Italian art.
Many of his paintings remain in the cities, churches and galleries for which they were created, allowing us to consider them in settings that still shape how they are seen. Travelling through Rome, Naples and Milan, we look at the artistic ambition, religious patronage and turbulent social world that formed Caravaggio’s career. Dr Higginson’s research into the political, social and artistic context of Caravaggio’s Roman years brings depth to a story shaped by both extraordinary painting and a famously difficult, violent personality.
what’s included
At A Glance
Meet Your Expert Guide
Dr Peter Higginson
Peter is a highly respected lecturer specialising in the art and culture of early modern Europe and the modern period. His publications include work on art and society in seventeenth-century Baroque Rome and the patronage of Caravaggio, a particular focus of his research.
He has taught numerous university courses abroad and leads cultural programmes across Europe, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Paris, Madrid and Barcelona. Peter’s enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment have earned consistently strong reviews from Travel Editions travellers, making his tours both scholarly and highly enjoyable.
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Rome
Our programme of visits commences 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: Caravaggio’s Rome & the Vatican
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 of 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 some free time 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: Capitoline, Corsini & Farnese
We start the day at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, dating back to the 14th 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: Caravaggio in 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: Borghese Gallery & Palazzo Barberini
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: Villa Ludovisi Private Opening
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 & the Ambrosiana
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 is to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, which 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: Brera Gallery & 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.
Please note that some Caravaggio paintings may be removed from museums due to prearranged loans.
Availability
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HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
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 its 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
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This tour has a demanding fitness rating and is designed for travellers who enjoy a more active pace of exploration. While it is not a walking holiday, you should expect busy days with extended periods on your feet and visits where conditions may be more varied. These may include uneven terrain, cobbled streets, archaeological sites, steep paths, steps, stairs, limited handrails or fewer opportunities to sit and rest.
A good level of fitness and mobility will help you enjoy the full experience of the itinerary. Please read the day-by-day itinerary carefully, as we highlight specific practical details wherever possible. This may include notes about ground conditions, stairs, walking distances, coach access or sites where lifts are not available.
If you have any questions about whether this tour is suitable for you, please contact our team before booking. We are always happy to talk through the itinerary and help you make the right choice.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
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