ROME.- The city of Rome is a magnet for lovers of art and culture, with amazing examples of art through the ages scattered throughout the city streets. While visiting a single gallery or art venue can be an interesting experience for art lovers, taking a street tour adds context to the art and helps visitors to enjoy a more rounded art experience during their visit to this city.

Art-loving visitors to Rome can choose from a wide range of street tours, each of which offers its own unique perspective on the Italian capital’s rich, artistic heritage.

Whatever your artistic preference or holiday budget – whether you are renting one of the many Rome self-catering vacation places or staying in five-star luxury – there is likely to a be a Rome art street tour that will really enhance your experience in the city. Check out our picks of some of the best options for art lovers below:

Caravaggio Art walking tour of Rome
Operated by experienced tour providers Viator, this Caravaggio Art walking tour offers an exciting insight into the life and work of this onetime Roman resident, with a professional and informed guide on hand to answer any questions you may have. The tour takes in two of the most famous works of the Baroque master, with visits to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, where the Cerasi Chapel is home, to his Crucifixion of St Peter and Conversion on the Way to Damascus, and the Basilica Sant’Agostino, where the Cavaletti Chapel is home to the Madonna di Loreto.

As well as taking in some of the streets that Caravaggio himself would have walked during his time in Rome, the tour ends with a real Italian flavor as the group repairs to a local wine bar to enjoy drinks and snacks while they discuss their impressions of the art they have seen – perfect for art lovers who enjoy the give and take of opinions.

Rome art history walking tour
Another offering from skilled tour operators Viator, the Rome art history walking tour helps you to ground yourself in the art history of the city before setting out alone to explore more. Leaving from the Arch of Constantine near the Colosseum, the walking tour is led by an experienced art historian and takes in a number of sights from the days of the Roman Empire, including private tours of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, together with commentary on their features and influence on the city’s artistic identity.

Popes, power and parties Rome art tour
Operated by Context Tours, this walk focuses on the events of the Renaissance in Rome and how the city’s place in artistic history was influenced by an influx of power players from across Europe.

Discover the palaces they built and the streets the travelled, as they offered commissions to masters such as Michelangelo and Raphael, and see some of the pieces that resulted in their original Roman settings. Starting at the Campo de’ Fiori, the tour stars in the early 16th century with works from a number of influential players, including Bramante, before heading to the Michelangelo-designed Palazzo Farnese, to discover more about the intersection of art and power in Renaissance Rome. After this, there is more walking and talking through this important area before heading to the Villa Farnesina to view two major pieces by Raphael,

The tour is led by a well-informed guide, who will be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions that may arise.

Explore modern art in Rome
Of course, ancient artists are not the only ones whose work is waiting to be discovered on a walking tour of Rome, with the Vatican Museum of Modern Art housing a collection of contemporary works and the city streets themselves proving a canvas to the modern Roman street artists. To explore this area a little more thoroughly, consider booking a private guided art tour with one of the many qualified tour guides in the city and tailoring the itinerary to meet with your own expectations.

Art lovers love Rome!
If you are drawn to the aesthetic, then there is no better place to explore than the Italian capital city of Rome, and taking street tours is a great way to begin to discover the depth of Roman art and its influence on all of our experiences. Just wandering the streets of the city will allow you to discover so much in the way of art and architecture, so be sure to keep your eyes open at all times.