Rome: Caravaggio 2025

Oooh, thank you! We won't be in Italy this year, but we will in the spring and early summer of 2026. Caravaggio is probably my husband Stan's favorite artist. This is going on our calendar for sure.

But, but, but....oh dear, Jane! It only runs to July 6 THIS year. :O(

Oh, no! I read that as July 2026! Rats. Thanks, Kathy. This year is out of the question. ... Probably... Maybe... I have the website open and up on screen...

Come on Jane…do it! Don’t make me be the only crazy person that is squeezing in a four night stay in Rome just to see this exhibit. My husband sent me the article one night and by noon the next day I had flights, hotel, and tickets booked for May.

I’ll be in Milan for 6 nights after my VIllage Italy tour ends. It looks like I can take a direct train to Rome, walk easily to the exhibition, and train back to Milan the same day. They had plenty of tickets for April 22 when I checked. I’ve already booked Last Supper tickets for the 23rd in Milan so I’ll be crossing my fingers nothing goes sideways (strike) with Italian trains that day. Caravaggio is one of my favorites. I think our local museum is sending our painting to the exhibit.

We're in Florence now and will be in Rome next week. My husband just bought tickets for this exhibition! I'll report back :-)

We actually did this a couple of years ago, to see the Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam. A last minute (almost,) flying visit to Amsterdam and London.

I don't know if Stan has actually noticed the open page... And I checked availability... there are plenty of tickets available in June, which would probably be the only time we might be able to get away. July would actually be easier, but I'd hate to be caught up in the last few days.

Thanks for this tip. Just booked tickets for May 27. Plenty of availability still.

We just bought our tickets this morning for June. Still good availability.

Besides the Palazzo Barberini for this exhibit, there are other parts of Rome that display Caravaggio's works:

https://www.italia.it/en/lazio/rome/things-to-do/caravaggio-paintings-in-rome

And I had already planned to a 'Caravaggio Crawl' to these destinations when I'm in Rome in a few weeks, really not caring if my traveling companions will accompany me. Staying at Campo de' Fiori, not looking at the transportation schematic, I assume I'll have to take the bus to Termini, then switch to the Metro to the Barberini stop. Very excited!

I had not given much thought to Caravaggio until I saw the Netflix Film Noir black & white drama Ripley, which was shot in Rome & Atrani. Part of the theme dealt with pretty much the insanity of Caravaggio, who killed a man in a brawl, then after fleeing and returning to Naples, had his face disfigured in another brawl. His later works certainly show this turmoil within.

Hi Jay - we too stay close to the Campo - near Arenula - edge of the Jewish Ghetto - you can get a direct bus # 62 - stop on Corso Emanuele II - 9 stops to Piazza Barberini - then 3 minute walk. Time of day and traffic means the ride can take from 20 to 35 minutes. We will be going to the exhibit in late May.

That's good to know, jj. We will be going from southern Maine (York) out of Boston/Logan but have family in PEI!

So then just a bus ride on the 62, don't have to go through Termini. Now...to see about tickets. I'd like to wait and play it by ear but might have to fire in for a set time now. Can't miss this!

I'm so happy for all of you who'll get to see this...and selfishly a bit jealous too!
Be sure and report back?

Hi Jay - I purchased tickets - yesterday for a visit in late May - there seemed to be lots available except on weekends.

Well, I dangled the bait, but the fish didn't bite.

Dangle some bigger bait, Jane, because the exhibit was great!

We went on the evening of the 20th and it was lovely. We spent about an hour but you could probably do it in less. It was a little crowded and seemed to be attracting a lot of interest. We watched the staff turn people away over and over who wanted tickets and were told they were sold out until next week. There were 4 rooms with about 30 pieces of artwork and information about Caravaggio's life and career. A small gift shop with exhibit specific goodies was at the end.

Although it was a little crowded it wasn't uncomfortably so and we had no issues seeing everything up close. I think the museum walked the line of letting in just about enough people for each time slot without packing them in, especially when you factor in how popular and in-demand tickets are.

Nice article today in the New York Times describing Pope Francis’s favorite paiting, Caravaggio’s The Calling of St. Matthew. There is a great pictorial breakdown.

I wouldn’t call the exhibit “a little” crowded. When we were there, it was jammed. I’m short. I had to continuously peer around taller people who blocked my view. Hard to enjoy.