Patrons, Artists, and Private Palazzi: an on-site art seminar in Rome, Italy, with Giulia Bernardini

• Highlights may include: the hidden underground rooms of emperor Nero’s Domus Aurea, the treasure-lined halls of the Capitoline Museums, dizzying frescoes in the normally off-limits Palazzo Farnese, enjoy a cooking class and lunch at l’Orto di Alberico on the famed Via Appia, visit the stunning American Academy, and see the Sistine Chapel and other wonders of the Vatican Museums after hours, far from the madding crowd. All this and more is part of the mouth-watering itinerary.
• Stay at the award-winning boutique Palazzo Navona Hotel in the heart of Rome’s centro storico.
• Enjoy ample free time with the help of Giulia’s Inside Scoop: a hand-picked selection of Rome’s best food, shopping, gelato, artistic and cultural sites.
• Explore optional literary selections culled by Giulia to expand your understanding of what you’ll see.
• Share the experience with a small group of like-minded explorers (maximum of ten people).
• Prices and dates forthcoming – subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Patrons, Artists, and Private Palazzi

For one indulgent week, we will feast on the art, architecture, food, and dolce vita (sweet life) of my enchanting native city and beyond. We’ll begin our exploration by considering the impact Rome’s imperial past had on the power brokers of central Italy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As we discover palaces and squares, churches and monuments, we’ll see how Rome’s High Renaissance and Baroque rulers harkened back to the glory of the ancient Roman empire in order to consolidate their dominion over one another, the city, the region, and all of Europe.

We’ll learn about the famous – and infamous – papal families of Rome as we take in ceiling frescoes and private collections in opulent, sprawling palazzi in the city proper and in picturesque country towns. We will gain an invaluable understanding of these vibrant periods of art patronage and architectural expansion all while exploring the roles played by artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Annibale Carracci, Bernini, and Caravaggio, among countless others, as we stand before their breath-taking works. All this will take place not only in the city’s numerous world-class museums but also in the many churches, private galleries, and elegant suburban villas where the works of art have stood since their creation.

Following the sound advice to “do as the Romans do,” we will punctuate our fascinating art historical explorations with leisurely walks through lively piazze, drinks on a terrace above one of Rome’s most delightful streets, dinners – and a cooking class – in local osterie, two outings to countryside villas with lovely shady gardens, and we will wander the grounds of one of Rome’s most important cultural academies as the sun sets.

Join us for this unmissable experience. Contact Giulia to book your place and for more information at [email protected] or click on ‘Contact Us’ below.

I look forward to seeing you at the banquet!

Giulia