From Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole
‘Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold
The path of light is laid, the sacred test,
Let angels guide you on your lofty quest
- Galileo Galilei (…um, doubtful!)
A fun way to learn about Rome’s preeminent 17th century sculptor, GianLorenzo Bernini
Retrace the steps of Harvard "symbologist" Robert Langdon and the sexy but mournful physicist Vittoria Vetra on their quest to save St. Peter’s Basilica before it is fictionally blown to bits.
Whatever Dan Brown’s weaknesses as a writer are, he was clever enough to center his Angels and Demons book around the masterworks of GianLorenzo Bernini, and the Angels and Demons tour is a
terrific introduction to Bernini and the Baroque. There’s also a dash of insight on the
gifted playboy painter from a century earlier, Michelangelo’s rival, Raphael.
The tour criss-crosses the four corners of Rome – from the so-called Altars of Science to
the Illuminati Lair (hideout for the assassin and his hapless victims), and of course, the
target of the particle bomb, St. Peter’s Basilica itself.
Key Sites include:
The Pantheon – "From Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole?" good guess, but not!
Earth: Santa Maria del Popolo in Piazza del Popolo, Chigi Chapel with its "pyramids" and "manhole cover," Bernini sculpture of Habakkuk and the Angel, pointing to....
Air: St. Peter's Square with its impressive colonnade by Bernini. Plaque of the West Wind
at base of obelisk, blowing toward….
Fire: Santa Maria della Vittoria/Bernini statue of St. Teresa in Ecstasy.
Also nearby -
Piazza Barberini, the Triton Fountain, Bernini Hotel, and bonus stop at Capuchin Crypt. Angel’s spear pointing to….
Water: Piazza Navona/Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. Dove atop obelisk pointing to….
The Illuminati Lair: Castel Sant’Angelo, Nearby - the Bridge of Angels, Il Passetto (the
not-so-secret passageway) between the Apostolic Palace and Castel Sant’Angelo.
Can Robert and Vittoria beat the assassin and his crazy insider cohort in this race against time, before hooking up (oops, only in the book!) in the ridiculous climax? You betcha!
Recommended length 5 hours. Isola Tiberina, Interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Grottoes and Sistine Chapel upon request.
YOUR TOUR GUIDE TO THE SPOOKY SIDE OF ROME!
Ask me about other “from the screen” itineraries like the Gregory Peck/Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday Tour, or the Borgia tour (suffice to say Pope Alexander Borgia didn’t look like Jeremy Irons!)
Email: Info@RomanHolidayTours.com. Italian cell: +39-347-076-2480. Skype: LauraWeinstein.
During COVID I conducted live lectures from Rome! Now we are back to live tours, but private lectures are still available, as recordings to rent or as custom Zoom lectures to book for your friends, family, culture club, church, synagogue, museum or University.
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