“One of the most amazing things about Michelangelo’s creativity is the way it went on and on.” So writes Michelangelo’s biographer Martin Gayford, who will be your guide for this fascinating tour tracing the life and works of one of the most influential artists ever born. This relevance and the esteem in which he is held show no sign of fading as a forthcoming National Gallery exhibition about his extraordinary artistic relationship with Sebastiano del Piombo will no doubt illustrate. As Martin writes: “Michelangelo was the supreme artist of his era, and perhaps of any epoch. On this expedition we will see the full range of his creations – in painting, sculpture and architecture.”
- Discover the secret history of Michelangelo in Rome with Martin Gayford, author of Michelangelo: His Epic Life
- Enjoy an after-hours private viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement, revered as one of the greatest masterpieces ever created
- View and discover the story behind Michelangelo’s most incredible works, including his sculptures The Risen Christ and Moses and his work as architect at Saint Peter’s
- Stay at the historic 17th-century Residenza di Ripetta, a former convent
- Extend your tour and join Martin as he reveals the works of Michelangelo in Florence
Travel with Martin Gayford
There can be few better companions to trace Michelangelo’s life and works than Martin Gayford, an expert on the artist. Having written Michelangelo’s biography, he is ideally placed to explain the works and their context. One guest on the inaugural running of the tour said: “How very lucky we were to have Martin Gayford. To have someone so very knowledgeable but who could impart his knowledge in such a relaxed, easy to listen to way just brought the trip alive in the most magical way.”
Private viewing of the Sistine Chapel
Instead of visiting the Sistine Chapel with the general public, you will be treated to a private after-hours viewing. Here you can view Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco, his Last Judgement, the quattrocento wall frescoes, and Raphael’s frescoes in the Stanze.
As well as the Sistine Chapel, you will see the many other important pieces by Michelangelo dotted throughout the city including sculptures such as The Risen Christ and Moses, created for Pope Julius’ tomb. You will also have the chance to appreciate his significant architectural contribution with visits to the Palazzo Farnese and St Peter’s, the foremost church in Christendom, where he worked as its supervising architect.
You will stay in a building that is of note in its own right, the Residenza di Ripetta. Once a 17th-century convent, it is now a comfortable four-star hotel with spacious rooms, located just south of Piazza del Popolo.
Michelangelo in Florence
After Rome, Martin Gayford continues directly to Florence where he escorts another trip to cover Michelangelo’s work there (details to follow in the New Year). If you wish to extend your stay and join ‘Michelangelo in Florence’, please register your interest when making your inquiry with Martin Randall Travel.
- Flights (Euro Traveller) with British Airways (on an Airbus 319)
- Travel by private minibus
- Three nights’ hotel accommodation
- Two dinners with wine, water and coffee
- All admissions, including a private visit to the Vatican Museums
- All tips and taxes
- The services of the lecturer
- Single supplement is £290
Journey and booking information
** Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02) and are included in inclusive minutes and discount schemes in the same way.
Board British Airways flight, departing from London Heathrow at 9.45am, and arriving in Rome Fiumicino at lunchtime. After checking in to your hotel, you will visit the Palazzo Farnese, the most magnificent Renaissance palace in Rome, which now serves as the French embassy. Michelangelo was responsible for the central balcony, cornice and second and third levels of the internal courtyard.
See two of Michelangelo’s sculptures, 'The Risen Christ' in Sta. Maria Sopra Minerva and 'Moses', created for Pope Julius’ tomb, in S. Pietro in Vincoli. S. Pietro in Montorio houses Sebastiano del Piombo’s Flagellation which incorporated figure drawings by Michelangelo. In the evening there is a private visit to the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel and the adjacent Stanze in peace. Here, see Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco, his 'Last Judgement' on the end wall and the quattrocento wall frescoes, together with Raphael’s frescoes in the Stanze.
On the site of the ancient Roman Capitol, Michelangelo created an architectural ensemble to house the city government. The Capitoline Museums here contain ancient sculpture. Further architectural projects are the Porta Pia, a city gateway, and the Baths of Diocletian converted to form Sta. Maria degli Angeli.
In the morning visit St Peter’s, the foremost church in Christendom, where Michelangelo was supervising architect from 1546, and which contains his early sculptural masterpiece, the Pietà. Fly from Rome Fiumicino, arriving at London Heathrow at 7.00pm. Customers should note that a tour of Michelangelo’s Florence, also run by Martin Randall Travel, will shortly be finalised and will run subsequent to this tour of Rome. If you are interested, please contact Martin Randall Travel.