Study tour to Baroque Rome

The International Institute for Baroque Studies at the University of Malta has just organised a three-day study tour to Rome to enable students following diploma and postgraduate courses run by the Institute to better understand the significance of the Baroque movement which dominated the Roman scenario in the later 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

During the study tour the students were accompanied by Professor Denis De Lucca, director of the Institute, and the diploma course co-ordinator, Architect Hermann Bonnici.

Baroque Rome was systematically explored along three planned itineraries which enabled the students to evaluate the exterior and interior of the main baroque churches and palaces and their respective history and context.

Talks about the many buildings designed by the great baroque architects Maderno, Bernini, Borromino, Cortona and Fontana were given by Professor De Lucca who explained the main characteristics and the various fascinating facets of Roman baroque architectures to the students.

The excellent travel arrangements were made by Express Travel and a detailed brochure giving details about the various buildings visited was prepared for the occasion by the International Institute for Baroque Studies.

Among the principal buildings visited during the study tour were the Barberini palace with its frescoes by Pietro da Cortona, the churches of S. Carlino, S. Ivo, S. Andrea, S. Susanna and S. Agnese, and the basilicas of St Peter, S. Maria Maggiore, S. Maria degli Angeli and the Lateran. The students also visited the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps and the famous Cornaro chapel designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the church of S. Maria della Vittoria.