Roman Forum (03:42)

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Rome was a cultural and political center for thousands of years. The the site of numerous governments was redesigned by Michelangelo in the 16th century. The Capitoline Museum also stands on the site and includes Renaissance and Baroque paintings.

Santa Maria Maggiore (01:29)

The basilica is one of the four major ones in Rome and is owned by the Vatican. The church walls are covered in artwork, including multiple pre-Renaissance mosaics.

Villa Borghese (07:46)

The city park was once the gardens of the Borghese family's Roman villa. Multiple museums are located within the park, including the Borghese Gallery featuring the family's art collection. The collection has numerous oil paintings from prominent Italian Renaissance painters.

Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (02:20)

The church was built for French pilgrims in Rome on land owned by the Medici family. The building's marble, stucco, and fresco decorations are a mixture of French and Italian styles. A series of St. Matthew paintings by Caravaggio covers the walls of the Contarelli Chapel.

Piazza Navona (02:19)

Built on the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian, the piazza has numerous fountains and examples of Art Deco architecture. Gian Lorenzo Bernini built the Four Rivers Fountain in 1550.

Basilica of San Agostino (02:31)

The early Renaissance church was initially an Augustinian convent. Bernini designed the alter and its many pillars are covered in frescoes.

Fountain of Moses (00:42)

The fountain was one of the first monumental fountains built during the Renaissance. It gets its name from the large statute of Moses, commissioned by the pope, at its center.

St. Peter's Basilica (03:12)

The basilica is the Vatican's seat in Rome and was completed in 1626. Bernini, Michelangelo, and Raphael were among the basilica's architects and designers. It contains the tomb of St. Peter.

Vatican Museums (06:10)

Vatican City includes a complex of museums displaying artwork collected by the church over the centuries. Most of the paintings are religious works and many are in the Baroque and Renaissance styles. Numerous rooms feature frescoes by Raphael and his students.

Room of Constantine (01:45)

The room of frescoes in the Vatican Museums was completed by Raphael's students after his death. They depict the story of the Roman emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity.

Sistine Chapel (04:39)

The greatest painters of the day were selected to paint the chapel. Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Rosselli, and Perugino worked on frescoes and Michelangelo painted the ceiling.

Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (02:12)

The church was founded in the 8th century and rebuilt in the 13th century. It is the only Gothic-style church in Rome, though some of its interior remains Baroque.

Sant'Ignazio di Loyola (02:10)

The Baroque church was built in 1626 and devoted to the founders of the Jesuits. A fresco depicts St. Ignatius of Loyola's dedication to education and spreading Christianity. Many saints are buried within the church.

Doria Pamphili Gallery (05:29)

The private museum is in a 16th century palace belonging to the Doria-Pamphili-Landi family. The paintings are displayed in the manner in which family displayed them in the 18th century.

Piazza Colonna and Piazza Republica (04:22)

The Piazza Colonna is marked by a statute of Marcus Aurelius, which has been there since ancient times. The circular Piazza Republica includes a fountain and a basilica honoring the Virgin Mary. Santa Maria Della Vittoria is a Baroque church built in 1620.

Credits: Rome - Treasures of the Italian Renaissance (01:29)

Credits: Rome - Treasures of the Italian Renaissance