Tour Details
Duration
4 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Il Gesù Nuovo
- Cappella Sansevero
- Pio Monte della Misericordia
- San Lorenzo Maggiore
- Santa Chiara
- San Domenico Maggiore
Photos & Highlights
- Gain an understanding of Naples place in the evolution of Italian art
- Led by an art historian
Select a date
Tour Description
The brilliant, tortured artist Caravaggio fled to Naples in 1606 after killing a man in Rome. The Baroque was in full swing in the city, and Caravaggio fit right in, painting several works, including the masterpiece The Seven Works of Mercy. During this 4-hour Naples Art Tour, focusing on Caravaggio's time in the city and the Baroque movement in which he fit, we'll join a local art historian to discover some of Naples' greatest art treasures and look more closely at Caravaggio's influence.
In the 17th century, Naples experienced a radical transformation, expanding from a population of 60,000 to nearly 300,000 residents. A good port for trade and home to fertile plantations (latifundia) in the surrounding countryside, Naples became a center of economic activity for the Florentines, Genoese, and, eventually, the Spanish Bourbons, who ruled the city for over a century. In this context, the arts (most notably, Baroque painting and architecture) flourished.
Beginning with Il Gesù Nuovo, a stunningly eclectic work of Baroque architecture that boasts paintings by Luca Giordano, Giovanni Lanfranco, and sculptures by Cosimo Fanzago, we will plunge into the crowded and culturally rich streets of Naples. By stopping at both nondescript chapels and majestic churches, such as the Cappella Sansevero, as well as the churches of San Domenico Maggiore and Santa Chiara, we can view some of the overlooked treasures that fill Naples' unassuming streets.
The walk will continue to San Lorenzo, an Angevin church containing important works by the court painter Luca Giordano, among others. We will also visit the Pio Monte chapel and palace, a powerful example of 17th-century architecture that contains Caravaggio's magnificent Seven Works of Mercy. The walk concludes with the multilayered and sumptuously decorated Neapolitan Duomo, a monument to elaborate Baroque architectural design.
A must for art lovers, this walk, which swerves in and out of the alleys and side streets of the lively historical center, will illustrate why Naples is an important component in the evolution of Italian art.
Is this walk suitable for families?
Although it is not specifically designed for younger learners, we can adapt this walk to be more geared toward families.
Is this tour walking-intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible?
This tour is accessible to clients with mobility issues. Wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility can visit the entire nave area of the Sansevero Chapel (with the Veiled Christ), and the sacristy/bookshop. Unfortunately, visiting the Underground Chamber is impossible, as access to this space is via a narrow historical spiral staircase. All of the San Lorenzo Maggiore Complex is accessible, except for the Archeological Area. The church of Pio Monte della Misericordia is accessible via a ramp on Via dei Tribunali. The museum staff will help clients with mobility issues to access the Quadreria with an elevator.
Is there any dress code for this tour?
This tour visits several churches. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Dresses and shorts must be below knee level, and shoulders must be covered (zip-on jackets or scarves are acceptable). We recommend bringing along scarves or shawls to be able to cover those body parts.
Are tickets included in the tour price? You are prepaid only for the Sansevero Chapel tickets. There may be other nominal site entrance costs or other fees that are not included in the price of the tour. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for these since you will buy those on-site on the day of the tour. Your guide will assist you to purchase the correct tickets.
Where You'll Start
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84 Reviews
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Guide personality and knowledge in detail
N j
Reviewed on:
Nov 7, 2016
This was our first time in Naples. We felt we gained a very good introduction to the city, its history, and some of its churches in the short time we spent there. We hope to see more of the city in the future.
Richard
Reviewed on:
Oct 15, 2016
I really appreciated the last minute attempts to find the right guide for the tour I wanted. Francesca Leoni was exceptionally hospitable and led us on a wonderful tour of the Old Historic District in Naples. When I wanted to stop and explore, she took extra time for that and translated for me with certain shopkeepers, even introducing me to a ver special artisan maker of original Nativity mangers, with whom I will make a special order. I would not known about this if not for Francesca's attention to my own interests. In the end, we ran out of time - so that I had to choose between seeing the actual Caravaggio exhibit (for which I had originally signed up) and the Cathedral of Naples. But that was my fault, because I had stopped us twice to speak with artisan shopkeepers and to make a special purchase. Francesca gave us far and above more information than we could have ever learned ourselves, especially as she was a local Neapolitan. My friend and I went to the Caravaggio exhibit by ourselves afterwards and were glad that we put it as last, because, in fact, it disappointed us -- whereas the 4 hours with Francesca was so special and will always be memorable.
Bobette
Reviewed on:
Sep 18, 2016
