Joy of Rome

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The Artist of the Popes: GIAN LORENZO BERNINI City stroll

LIVE TOURSCITY WALKSThe Artist of the Popes: GIAN LORENZO BERNINI City stroll

The Artist of the Popes: GIAN LORENZO BERNINI City stroll

Gian Lorenzo Bernini needs no introduction, he simply is one of the most famous artists of our era. In his long life he met seven different Popes and, for most of them, he has been a voice and a symbol. He changed, with his works, the face of Rome.

The Four Rivers Fountain, Bernini tour by joy of rome

GOOD TO KNOW

THIS TOUR INCLUDE:

  • Spanish steps
  • Piazza Barberini
  • Santa Maria della Vittoria (Ecstasy of Saint Teresa)
  • Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Monument to Sister Maria Raggi and Monument of Cardinal Pimentel)
  • Sant’Andrea delle Fratte
  • Piazza Navona
For religious places, an appropriate dress-code is required (please cover shoulders and knees).
No admission ticket is required for this tour. Rome – as you may know – is an open-air museum; All you need is the desire to walk in some of the most beautiful streets of the city and the curiosity to discover the career and life of one of the greatest artists of all times.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini needs no introduction, he simply is one of the most famous artists of our era. In his long life he met seven different Popes and, for most of them, he has been a voice and a symbol. He changed, with his works, the face of Rome and he created some of the most important and memorable works of the whole city. Let’s discover his genious in this “Bernini Private Walking Tour” 

The architectural and sculptural works of Bernini in Rome are numerous and with this walking tour we will discover some of the most important and surprising ones.

Not only that! The exploration of the works of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and their evolution over the years will be an opportunity to retrace the events of his private life, to get to know the man behind the artist, and discover frailty, strengths, his determination, his courage and, sometimes… his tendency to bully, too!

It is famous his lifelong competition with the less fortunate Francesco Borromini! We will discover what turned the two artists into enemies and what led Borromini to a tragic decision.

The Bernini tour will begin with a visit to one of the most interesting churches in Rome, Santa Maria della Vittoria: here we will see the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa and recall the reactions that this unique work of art aroused over the years. We will then be heading to Saint Andrea al Quirinale, to discover Bernini as an architect, as well as a sculptor, and we will finally reach Piazza Barberini where two fountains built by the artist stand out.

Did you think there was only one fountain, the one of the Triton? Well… you are wrong…!

Gian Lorenzo Bernini worked with water for his whole life, since when he was very young and helped in creating the “Barcaccia”, the famous fountain at the Spanish Steps. We will see the house where he lived for years and we will visit the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, which houses two of the angels he made for the Bridge of Sant’Angelo, right in front of the Angel Castle.

Not always Bernini managed to do all he wanted, the way he wanted…

Even this genius of the Baroque age had his dark moments, as you will discover, while listening to the story of the Pantheon’s bell towers, the Propaganda Fide Palace and the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

After recalling the hilarious story of the famous marble elephant decorating the center of the square, we will visit the Church, one of the most beautiful in Rome, and admire two funeral monuments made by the artist!

As a grand finale of our Bernini  private walking tour we will walk to one of the most famous squares in the world: the spectacular, baroque and amazing PIAZZA NAVONA.

With the Fountain of the Four Rivers Gian Lorenzo Bernini reached a perfect harmony between sculpture and architecture: its beauty will leave you speechless!

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BERNINI? Check our Borghese Gallery tour!

INTERESTED IN MORE BIOPIC TOURS?  Check our Caravaggio Tour!

GENERAL INFORMATION
  • Private Tour
  • There are no entrance fees nor admission tickets to pay.
  • professional art historian licensed live guide.
  • Due to the considerable distance and to the not fully equipped path, this walking tour is not suitable for people with mobility problems.
  • During the tour we will enter the churches: it is therefore recommended to have your shoulders and knees covered in respect for the sacred places.
  • Entrance time and days in the Churches may vary according to holidays and special celebrations, as a consequence of this the tour schedule may undergo last minute changes.
TOURS & PRICES

We run only private tours.

We don’t run small groups.

We can accommodate time/day request according to our guides’ and entry tickets availability.

Final and detailed price will be provided after receiving your request from the contact form.

Starting price for a private tour 2,5 hrs for 2 adults: 350 euro + tickets but definitive price is provided *only* upon request.
Price can be reduced during low season or increased during holiday, peak dates or last minute request.

For group larger than four, price will be provided upon request.

Meeting point

ASK for availability

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    February 5, 2023

    star rating  This was our third tour with Joy of Rome and second with Francesca. She has a gift for bringing the stories behind the artworks to life and sharing her enthusiasm.... read more

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    star rating  Our guide Francesca was fantastic! As an art historian and curator of street art, she really made the subject com alive. I strongly recommend this activity for anyone interested in... read more

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    star rating  Francesca‘s narrative is always the best. She is our joy of Rome. No one brings Rome to life better.

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    star rating  Loved this tour! Maria was AMAZING with my two boys (5.5 and 8 yrs) while touring the Colosseum in August. They are both shy, she was caring and kept them... read more

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    star rating  We did four tours with Grace and found her to be extremely knowledgeable, speaking at length about the history, culture and traditions of the artifacts we saw. She answered all... read more

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    star rating  Took four tours with Joy of Rome and Francesca and Grace were a true Joy! We did the Vatican, catacombs, pantheon and colosseum. Highly recommend! Thanks so much ladies.

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  • star rating  Francesca was a great guide. She engaged with my 8 yo and had lots of interesting details to share. Definitely a must do tour in Rome.

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    star rating  Great tour with not just historical facts but plenty of anecdotes that kept the teenagers attentive the whole time. Massimo was just fantastic. Period.

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    star rating  Francesca was extremely knowledgeable. She has great enthusiasm for the art, artists, the gallery and helping us learn. She answered our questions and welcomed them. It deepened... read more

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