Medieval art barely survived the glorious flourishing of Baroque art. Most of the churches where medieval art expressed itself were restyled in the 17th C. We will walk in the heart of the Celio district to discover the finest masterpieces of the Middle Ages, kept in the basilicas of this characteristic neighborhood.

The Dark Ages were a troubled period in Rome history. Aristocratic families, popes and cardinals were rivaling for political power, while foreign armies were often threatening the city. Churches were fortified and looked like castles. Monastic life preserved the culture of pagan times in the great libraries containing ancient manuscripts. Christian pilgrims travelled to Rome in search of the memories of the Apostles and Christian martyrs.

This fascinating environment will first be explored starting at the Basilica of S. Clemente, with its multilayered complexity. We will then continue to the fortified religious complex of Ss. Quattro Coronati, an island of monastic peace within the city with its incredible cloister and frescoes. We end at St. John in Lateran, the early seat of the Popes and the Cathedral of Rome, where we'll discuss the birth of the Catholic Church. We will view some of the most mystical relics in Rome - the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs climbed by Christ in Pontius Pilate's Palace, and the Holy of the Holies, an incredibly well preserved medieval chapel, ancester of the Sistine Chapel!