Detail from Santa Caterina di Alessandria by Caravaggio. (Credit: © Museo Nacional Thyssen – Bornemisza , Madrid)

If you’ve ever stood captivated by the drama of a Caravaggio painting, you won’t want to miss Caravaggio 2025 in Rome this year. This landmark exhibition at the magnificent Palazzo Barberini, on view through July 6, 2025, brings together a remarkable collection of the artist’s works—including rare paintings from private collections and celebrated international museums—united in the city where Caravaggio’s dramatic style was born.

Among the many highlights is Portrait of Maffeo Barberini, exhibited alongside other works linked to the powerful Barberini family, offering new insight into the artist’s early Roman years. Visitors will also be able to see Ecce Homo, returning to Italy for the first time in centuries on loan from the Prado Museum in Madrid. For those moved by Caravaggio’s intense light and shadow, this is a rare chance to experience his genius on an unprecedented scale.

Planning for Caravaggio 2025

If you’re considering a trip to Rome for this special exhibition, it’s essential to plan ahead. Tickets are timed and in high demand, especially on weekends. Booking in advance is highly recommended to secure your preferred dates.

To make it even easier, enjoy a stay in one of our elegant vacation rentals in Rome’s historic center, all within walking distance of Palazzo Barberini and ideal for exploring the city’s artistic treasures:

Fedele – A stylish and inviting two-bedroom apartment in a prime central location near the Trevi Fountain.

Puccini – A spacious three-bedroom vacation rental with classic elegance and easy access to Rome’s top landmarks.

Roman Legacy – Perfect for larger groups or families, this grand five-bedroom apartment offers both comfort and character just minutes from Piazza Barberini.

Caravaggio All Year in Rome

Even beyond the current exhibition, Rome remains one of the most exceptional places in the world to experience Caravaggio’s art in person. His dramatic use of light and shadow and his emotionally charged scenes can be found in churches, museums and galleries across the city.

See three paintings by Caravaggio in the Contarelli Chapel in Rome. (credit)

Just step inside the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi to see three masterpiece paintings inspired by the life of Saint Matthew in the Contarelli Chapel. Visit the Church of Sant’Agostino for the beloved Madonna of Loreto, and don’t miss the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo where The Crucifixion of Saint Peter and The Conversion of Saint Paul still captivate visitors. At the Galleria Borghese, you’ll find six of his masterpieces, including David with the Head of Goliath and Boy with a Basket of Fruit.

Autoritratto in veste di Bacco by Caravaggio. (Credit: ph. M. Coen © Galleria Borghese)

Rome is a living museum of Caravaggio’s legacy, and whether you’re here for the special exhibition or just wandering through the city’s timeless streets, his presence and inspiration never feels far.

For a deeper look into Caravaggio’s life and art, explore our blog post on his fascinating Roman years, from his rise to fame to the controversies that shadowed him. Or plan your own Caravaggio itinerary with our complete guide to every painting you can see in Rome.

Ready to follow in Caravaggio’s footsteps?

There’s never been a better time to explore the Eternal City through the eyes of its most brilliant and surprising artist. Whether you’re coming for the Caravaggio 2025 exhibition or planning an artistic pilgrimage to see his masterpieces around Rome, plan your Rome stay today and experience the light, the drama and the beauty for yourself!

The post Experience Caravaggio’s Genius in Rome This Year appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Revolutionary Idea – Real People!

Even in his religious paintings, he presented a completely new model that reflected real life. You can see how he represented saints as common men and women, humble, lowly, with dirty feet and hands, sun-browned complexions and wrinkled skin. Moreover, he dared to use prostitutes to pose for his beautiful Madonnas and this was really outrageous!

Matthew and the Angel (1st version)

Caravaggio reflected a religious movement of the time that favored a return to poverty, sobriety and the purity of the beginning of Christianity, which was in great contrast to the magnificence and the richness of the official Church of Rome. It’s no surprise that the official church labeled many of his paintings as “lacking in decorum.” For example, when he painted St. Matthew and the Angel, the first version of the  painting was rejected, and the artist had to repaint it. In that first version, St. Matthew was so human and real. He was represented as an illiterate, rough, humble person, sitting cross-legged with his feet prominent in the foreground. There was an angel next to him holding his hand and teaching him to write while composing his Gospel. He seemed to be staring in amazement at his own writing.

Matthew and the Angel (2nd version)

The second version – the one you can see today in San Luigi dei Francesi right next to Piazza Navona in Rome –  transformed the saint into a learned and well-groomed man, inspired, but not physically guided by the angel who is not next to him anymore, but above him. St. Matthew is no longer amazed; he just seems surprised by the divine voice telling him what to write in the Gospel.

Another painting that “lacked decorum” is that of Madonna of the Papal-Grooms or Madonna of the Serpent. This altarpiece was briefly exhibited in the Vatican before its removal due to its unorthodox portrayal of the Virgin Mary and of St. Anne, her mother. It was sold to Cardinal Scipione Borghese, and now hangs in the Galleria Borghese where you can see it today.

Madonna and the Serpent

The theme is the trampling of the serpent that represents evil and original sin. The Virgin Mary places her foot on the serpent’s head, while little Jesus presses down on her foot to help crush it. Watching the scene is St. Anne, the mother of Mary and patron saint of the horse-grooms. The three figures behave naturally as if in the intimacy of a common family. The painting was removed almost as soon as it was hung over the altar. Why? Because the Virgin Mary is represented as a common woman; her dress is too low-necked and she is wearing it with the skirt hitched up and knotted on her side like a normal woman would do. Jesus was considered too old to be completely naked, and St. Anne is painted as an old woman; lined and weary, her hands in the foreground show dirty nails. And the worst was that the model who posed for the Virgin Mary was Lena, a well known prostitute of the time!

See Caravaggio Paintings in Rome

There are many places to see Caravaggio paintings in Rome, including the Church of Sant’Agostino. Italy Perfect highly recommends Cristina, the knowledgeable guide who prepared this article. She will happily will bring Caravaggio and Rome to life to you!

Contact Italy Perfect at reservations@italyperfect.com or 1-888-308-6123 to arrange your Roman accommodations and set up your Caravaggio in Rome tour with Cristina.

*The image of the first version of Matthew and the Angel is a colorized version using black and white photos of the painting that was destroyed.

Photos of the art are in the public domain from Wikipedia. Featured photo.

The post Caravaggio Paintings in Rome: Amazing Art that Shocked the Church appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.