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The Thematics
Modern and contemporary Rome
This is probably the most ambitious tour that we have for several reasons. First of all the difficulty of introducing specific sights which appeal to tourists and the difficulty to make a selection in such broad range of places. Modern and contemporary Rome is almost unknown to tourists which are commonly overwhelmed with the monumental and ancient Rome and also for the distance as it is developing outside the tourist circuits.
First of all for Modern Rome we refer to all the main town-planning and architectural developments which Rome undertook from the Unification of Italy (1870) onwards.
Especially for our visitors from USA it would be quite strange to consider that buildings of the 1800 are part of our modern history. Differently from Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Rome it is not easy for the modern Rome to underline key episodes or models even though in the "chaos" of the production there are some interesting and valid attempts.
From the "Pia Gate Breach" will start the complex transformation of Rome from the city of the Popes in the Capital of the Italian Kingdom. A city of 200.000 people than in less than a century will grow to more than 3.000.000 still keeping its popular character even though this will move more and more outside the historical centre. The history of modern Rome is characterized by infrastructures such as the main streets, the bridges and the banks of the Tiber, public housing that is divided in 3 specific categories: villas, block of flats, and intensive block of flats, and big complex linked to specific happenings. First and foremost the E42, today called EUR, the quarter started by Mussolini in 1937 interrupted by World War II and then completed in the '50s, The Foro Italico, Olympic Village, the Sport palace and The Flaminium Stadium all built for the Olympics of 1960 and the refurbishings for the last Jubilee year of 2000. The last contemporary building opened is the Auditorium of Renzo Piano and the Church of Richard Meier in Tor tre Teste.
The tour will include a panoramic of Umbertine Rome (the Rome right after the unification, inspired by the king Umberto the I) through the historical centre slowly moving outside the walls.
From this point we propose two possibilities:
- from Garbatella and San Saba visit the EUR
- from the Coppede' quarter to the Foro Italico, Olympic Village and Auditorium.
Tour length: 3 hours.
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Bernini and Borromini
The crisis that crossed the Church in the mid of the XVI century, which same existence was menaced by the Reform, was the starting point of a period of austerity renewal in order to reaffirm its power through an inside renovation to get the necessary strength. Rome of the XVII century was ready to regain its position where the first Popes already put it: represent the Church of Jesus Christ all around the world. After the innovative works of the Renaissance, the new feeling of being again the "centre of the world" will see the blossoming of the two rival genius of the Baroque: Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini.
The tour will include:
- St. Ivo alla Sapienza (outside) of Borromini, the chapel of the old university of Rome it is the visual portrait of human knowledge that reaches out Divine Knowledge! Piazza Navona, the old stadium of Domitian transformed in a marvellous square by Bernini with the Fountain of the Four Rivers and where his rival will build the Church of St. Agnes.
- The Palace of Propaganda Fide: the classical façade of Bernini and round the corner the fantasy of Borromini.
- St. Andrea delle Fratte: here they are again with two sculptures of Bernini inside, originally designed for the St. Angel Bridge, and with the dome of Borromini.
- St. Andrea al Quirinale of Bernini and St. Carlo alle Quattro Fontane of Borromini, the sizes of the latter are the same of just one pillar of St. Peter's Dome.
The tour will end in St. Maria della Vittoria to see the famous sculpture of Bernini the Ecstasy of St. Teresa.
This tour can be done on Sunday morning because of the opening of the Palace of the Quirinale (seat of the President of the Republic) to visitors. In this case the tour will include the guided tour of the Palace and the two churches of St. Andrea al Quirinale and St. Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. In this case for those who are interested it is possible to extend the visit in the afternoon to the Collection of Barberini Palace (see section "Museums and Art Galleries").
Gian Lorenzo Bernini is buried in St. Mary the Major in the family tomb, while Borromini, who committed suicide at the age of 68, is buried in St. Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
Tour length: 3 hours.
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Michelangelo and Raphael
Who has never heard about these two big artists? Our way of introducing them to you is to bring you in front of their works and leave you a moment to capture the emotions that only genius can give.
For anybody that would be interested in these two artists the Vatican Tour with the Painting Gallery (see section "The Classics") is fundamental.
- St. Peter in Chains. This ancient Basilica of the V century took its name from the relic: the chains of Peter while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and Rome. Today the church is visited by thousands of people to admire the tomb of Julius the II masterpiece of Michelangelo with the Moses.
- St. Mary sopra Minerva. Built on top of the temple devoted to Minerva it is a small museum with paintings of Filippino Lippi, Bernini, Michelangelo's "Resurrected Christ", and several tombs. The Florentine Popes such as Leo the X and Clemens the VII, the tomb of the patrons of the artists Fra' Giovanni da Fiesole also known as "Beato Angelico" and the Patrons of Europe: St. Catherine of Siena.
- St. Augustine. This church is unknown to the majority of the people but there are some important paintings that could be hosted in international museums: "La Madonna del Parto" of Jacopo Sansovino, "La Madonna dei Pellegrini" of Caravaggio and one of the most famous frescoes of Raphael "The Prophet Isaiah" made after he saw the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo that will influence Raphael in the future years.
- Villa Farnesina-Chigi. The main Renaissance villa in Rome (see section "Villas and Gardens") with the fresco of Raphael "The Galatea".
Raphael is buried into the Pantheon and it would be important for those of you who are interested in his art also the visit to the Borghese Gallery.
Tour length: 3 hours.
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Caravaggio
The activity of Caravaggio will influence the painting style of the late 1500 and will determine the beginning of a new style close to naturalism typical of the time also in music and poetry.
With this tour we will escort you in the discovery of some of the main paintings of Caravaggio still exhibit in the original locations. Piazza Santa Maria del Popolo with the Church of St. Mary of the People with the "Crucifixion of St. Peter" and the "Conversion of St. Paul". St. Luigi dei Francesi where we can see the three canvas related to St. Matthew and the church of St. Augustine with the "Madonna dei Pellegrini".
In order to know Caravaggio it is fundamental to visit the Borghese Gallery where the majority of its works are on display.
Tour length: 3 hours.
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